With the team score knotted at three points apiece, all eyes were on freshman Tara Iyer, as she fought for the decisive fourth point that would give fifth-ranked Duke a victory over No. 28 William & Mary (7-2).
Iyer, who played at the second singles position, was up a break in the third set at 5-3, serving for the match. But her opponent freshman Katarina Zoricic-ranked 50th in the ITA-battled back to take the final set to a tiebreaker.
At 3-3 in the tiebreaker, Iyer could not convert on any of the next four points, resulting in the second-straight dual match loss for the No. 5 Blue Devils (4-2), 4-3.
"Everyone on our team is going to be in that position some time," head coach Jamie Ashworth said. "We're going to win some and lose some. I don't think it's a freshman thing. Its a tough situation to be in."
A comeback performance from junior Kristin Cargill, who claimed the final set 6-3 after splitting the first two, tied Duke with the Tribe at 3-3, setting up Iyer's decisive match.
Before that, Duke had suffered two straight-set losses from No. 27 senior Jackie Carleton and freshman Jessi Robinson, posting final scores of 7-6 (4), 6-2, and 6-3, 7-6 (6), respectively.
Earlier, freshman Melissa Mang had dropped the first set 6-4 at the four spot, but quickly turned the match around and topped her opponent in the remaining sets, 6-0, 6-2.
"She actually did the same thing last week," Ashworth said. "She just played a little more aggressive, smarter. We've talked about it. If you're going to lose points, make the girl hit winners."
The Blue Devils pulled out the doubles point with two 8-6 victories from the duo of Mang and Jennifer Zika and the pair of Iyer and Robinson.
The Blue Devils were playing without their top singles player, Daniela Bercek, who sat out with a shoulder injury. The junior has won every singles match at the top flight so far this season, but Ashworth said Bercek's absence was not an excuse for the Blue Devils' loss.
"We're a young team, but when we have the opportunity to finish games, finish sets, finish matches, we have to do it," Ashworth said.
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