March 12, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. – The fourth-ranked Irish women’s tennis team knocked off third-ranked Duke, 5-2, Wednesday on the campus of the University of Central Florida.
The Blue Devils jumped out to a 1-0 lead after winning the doubles points. Mallory Cecil and Jessi Robinson downed Kali Krisik and Cosmina Ciobanu, 8-5, at No. 2 doubles, while Ellah Nze and Reka Zsilisnska defeated Shannon Mathews and Colleen Rielley, 8-6, at No. 3 doubles, to clinch the doubles point for Duke. Second-ranked Kelcy Tefft and Kristy Frilling outlasted Amanda Granson and Melissa Mang, 8-3, at No. 1 doubles.
Tefft downed Cecil, 7-6, 7-6, at No. 1 singles, before Frilling took down Zsilisnska, 6-4, 6-2, at second singles. Ciobanu defeated Granson, 6-1, 7-6, at No. 4, Mathews upset Mang, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 5 singles, and Krisik downed Robinson, 6-2, 6-3, at sixth singles.
Kristen Rafael fell to Nze, 2-6, 2-6, at No. 3 singles.
The Irish improve to 13-1 on the season, while Duke fell to 11-2.
Notre Dame will wrap up their three-match road swing Saturday at No. 7 Georgia Tech at 1 p.m.
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