While one tennis rookie of the year has already decided to leave Duke and test the professional waters, the Blue Devils await the decision of the other.
All-American and rookie of the year Ansley Cargill,will forego her final three years of eligibility to test the professional circuit.
"I had a great time this past year with my coaches and teammates at Duke," Cargill said. "My year at Duke helpd me get prepared for the challenges I will face on the tour."
Cargill's decision to waive her amateur status was a change from her earlier intentions.
"Her original plan was to take a year off from school and play as an amateur and see how it goes," women's tennis coach Jamie Ashworth said July 10 after Cargill informed him of her intention to turn pro.
Cargill, who was also the ACC player of the year and rookie of the year after compiling a 39-3 singles record, has still left open the possibility of returning to the Blue Devils. She could regain her amateur status if she were to return any prize money that she receives from playing in tournaments. As an amateur, she was previously only able to accept money for expenses. However, Ashworth, who is recruiting to fill her vacant scholarship, is not counting upon her return as the team prepares for the future.
"We're having three really good freshmen," Ashworth said. "We'll still be very good... [and] fairly young. Someone's going to have to step up."
Players such as Amanda Johnson, who was 8-0 in ACC matches and ranked 15th nationally, have been mentioned as candidates to fill the void left by Cargill's departure. Ashworth noted that the season-ending loss in the NCAA quarterfinals to the Vanderbilt Commodores was a motivating factor in itself.
"I think that [loss] made our incoming team hungry," he said. "No one on our team has made it to the Final Four and everyone wants that. People are excited."
Cargill is not the first women's player to leave after her freshman year. In 1997, Duke lost freshman Karin Miller, who also won ACC player and rookie of the year honors. Since her departure, Miller has hovered around the top-100 player rankings in the Women's Tennis Association professional tour. Incidentally, the year after Miller's departure, the team reached the NCAA finals.
"It's starting to happen more and more," Ashworth said of early departures. "The top two underclassmen [nationally] both decided to leave.... You have to prepare for it, but you recruit the best players every time."
"It obviously changes [the team]," returning sophomore Katie Granson said. "She was our number one player... and if we still had her we'd have a different team. I think we'll be fine. You just have to adapt every year."
Meanwhile, the men's tennis team, which finished the season with a semifinal loss to Georgia, awaits the decision of freshman Phillip King, who posted a 23-8 record overall at the No. 1 position.
"It's obviously a huge decision for our team," men's coach Jay Lapidus said, "but you want Phillip to feel comfortable with whatever he wants to do.... What's best for him is best for us."
Lapidus expects King to reach a decision sometime in August. Even if he stays, the Blue Devils will have to address the loss of seniors like Ramsey Smith, who played at the No. 2 seed. As a result, players like York Allen and Michael Yani will have to carry a stronger load.
"We were a very strong team and very deep [last year]," Lapidus said. "Some guys haven't had a chance to step up yet. They just haven't had the opportunity because we've been so deep."
King, who has been playing in tournament throughout the country, could not be reached for comment.
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