Miller captures Rolex Indoors singles title

Vanessa Webb may be the top-ranked collegiate player in the nation, but she'll have a run for her money to reclaim the No. 1 singles position on Duke's women's tennis team after freshman Karin Miller claimed the title in this weekend's Rolex National Indoors Championship.

Miller, who came into the third leg of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Collegiate Grand Slam ranked No. 9 in the nation, swept through the tournament and defeated sixth-seeded Katie Schlukebir of Stanford, 7-5, 6-2 in the final to claim her first collegiate win.

Webb, who won the Riviera All-American leg of the Grand Slam earlier this year, did not participate due to a shoulder injury. She is projected to be back in action March 5.

Duke hardly missed her in the Rolex, however, as Miller became the first freshman to win the event since Lisa Raymond of Florida claimed the crown in 1992.

In doubles play, the Blue Devil team of Karen O'Sullivan and Luanne Spadea reached the finals before succumbing to Ania Bleszynskia and Julie Scott of Stanford, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

"That's a huge thing for Karin to win [the Rolex championship]," coach Jody Hyden said. "To have two of our players win in the Grand Slam [this year], and then Karen and Luanne getting to the finals and almost winning it, that's really impressive."

The O'Sullivan/ Spadea duo were only an alternate to the Rolex after this season's 6-4 start, but the No. 6 doubles team in the nation certainly proved their doubters wrong by nearly winning the crown.

"That doubles team only lost one match last year, so I couldn't believe that they didn't make the NCAA Tournament [last season]," Hyden said. "They were second on the alternate list to get into this tournament. Then for them to make it to the finals, that's very impressive. They just had to go out and prove it because the officials weren't going to give anything to them."

The tournament also saw the return of All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer Kristin Sanderson for the Blue Devils, but her return was not triumphant, as she and her doubles partner Wendy Fix were bounced from the competition in two matches.

The story of the tournament, however, was Miller, who survived a dramatic first-round match, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 over Stanford junior All-American Bleszynskia, but didn't drop another set until the semifinals.

Miller, who entered the Rolex seeded eighth after reaching the finals in the Rolex Qualifier, improved her season record to 18-3.

"I didn't know how well she would do because she was sick about a week and a half before she went, so she did not have a real good opportunity to prepare for this tournament," Hyden said. "I didn't think she was moving that well, and I don't think she was 100 percent health-wise when she went down there."

The win gives the Blue Devils two legs of the Grand Slam and a renewed sense of confidence after they dropped a match 5-4 to No. 9 William and Mary on Feb. 2. In that match, Miller lost at the No. 1 position, 6-3, 6-4 to Lauren Nikolaus. But Miller got her revenge at the Rolex, disposing of Nikolaus, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals.

"The more players we have doing well in individual tournaments, the more confidence our team has for dual matches," Hyden said.

And with Webb expected to return for the beginning of ACC play, the Blue Devils look to be getting back in shape for their run at the national title.

"It's hard to say right now who's going to be No. 1 for us because of Vanessa's injury, but we have two of the top players in the country who could probably both play in the top spot and do well," Hyden said.

Jamal Middlebrooks contributed to this story.

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