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Women's Tennis
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Friday, September 18
Cary, N.C.
All Day
Duke University
vs
Day One at James Bonk Invite
Duke Strong in Day One of James Bonk Invite
9/18/2015 10:50:00 PM | Women's Tennis
CARY, N.C. – The Duke women's tennis team opened the 2015-16 season Friday, Sept. 18, competing in the Duke James Bonk Invite at the Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C. Three of the newest members on the team, freshmen Ellyse Hamlin, Jessica Ho and Kaitlyn McCarthy, each posted impressive play in their collegiate debuts.
“It was definitely a good day and a good start to our season,” said head coach Jamie Ashworth. “For the start of the year, I was pretty pleased with our doubles play and it continued into singles.”
The Blue Devils remained near-perfect in doubles action to begin the day, winning six of their eight contests. The 39th-ranked duo of senior Beatrice Capra and freshman Ellyse Hamlin recorded a pair of victories, beginning competition by convincingly defeating Erica Susi and Victoria Olivarez of Virginia, 8-0. The tandem followed the performance with an 8-4 victory over North Carolina's Cassandra Vasquez and Ashley Dai.
The team of junior Chalena Scholl and freshman Jessica Ho performed equally as well, earning two wins against stout competition. Scholl and Ho defeated North Carolina's Chloe Oulette-Pizer and Marika Akkerman, 8-1, before returning to the doubles courts and outlasting Olaya Garrido-Rivas and Sofiko Kadzhaya of TCU, 8-6.
Duke's momentum continued as sophomore Samantha Harris and freshman Kaitlyn McCarthy remained perfect on the day. The pair dropped Ansley Speaks and Katarina Wymouth of Furman, 8-5, before earning an 8-3 victory over Cassie Mercer and Maci Epstein of Virginia.
Junior Alyssa Smith and sophomore Rebecca Smaller were unable to earn a win in doubles action Friday, falling to Anna Danijina and Brianna Morgan of Florida, 8-3, and Kate Vialle and Jessie Aney of North Carolina, 8-2.
Duke's success on the doubles courts carried over to singles, as five Blue Devils advanced to the semifinal round of the singles bracket.
All three of Duke's rookies earned singles wins in their college debuts. McCarthy cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Georgia Tech's 35th-ranked Paige Hourigan. McCarthy is set to face Susi of Virginia tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Hamlin posted a similar performance against Weymouth, earning a 6-3, 6-2 win. Ho maintained the flawless performance of Duke's rookies, grinding out a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 win against Joanna Nalborska of NC State.
In addition to the three freshmen, Smith also moved into the semifinal round of the competition after defeating Barbara Mancera of NC State, 6-2, 6-2. Junior Chalena Scholl advanced following a bye in the quarterfinal round.
Smaller was unable to secure a win in her match against Vialle, falling in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. Smaller is set to face Maci Epstein of Virginia tomorrow in a consolation semifinal match Saturday.
Play resumes Saturday with doubles contests beginning at 9:30 a.m.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
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