Duke found success in Evanston, Ill. this weekend, taking down long-time rival Northwestern.
Since the beginning of the season, the girls have focused on maintaining their energy on the court, and the No. 3 Blue Devils brought all the vigor they needed on the road, sweeping No. 14 Northwestern 4-0 and improving their all-time record against the Wildcats to 14-5. “I was really happy with the energy that we had in doubles,” head coach Jamie Ashworth said. “There were a lot of close doubles matches and we played with a lot of composure.”
The most highly-anticipated match of the day did not finish because Duke had already clinched a team victory, but the abbreviated contest between the team’s No. 1 players was exciting nonetheless. Duke’s Hanna Mar, ranked No. 10 in the nation, was leading No. 67 Turvy 1-0 in the second set after a hard-fought 7-6 victory in the first when the match was ended. Mar’s main concern was figuring out how to essentially play against herself, since the two players have similar playing styles.
“They play exactly the same,” Ashworth said. “I knew it would be a long match. Both of them are tough to put balls away against.... She fought her way back into the first set and ended up winning it.”
Before the match, the Blue Devils discussed what it means to play tennis for Duke.
Although Duke walked out with a sweep, Ashworth believes that there is room for improvement, particularly leading up to the National Indoor Tournament—among the biggest of the season—which begins Friday in Charlottesville, Va.
“I think we need to serve a little bit better,” he said. “We’re on our way to the National Team Indoors this week, and I thought that we really have to value our service points a little bit more.”
In Evanston, Blue Devil sophomore Monica Turewicz did not seem to have any trouble capitalizing on her service opportunities against Linda Abu Mushrefova with an easy 6-3, 6-1 win, securing the first singles victory for the Blue Devils.
Following a tough doubles match that was stopped at 7-7, Turewicz’s quick win gave the team even more momentum in singles. No. 63 Marianne Jodoin and No. 40 Ester Goldfeld followed up with quick wins of their own, leading Duke to victory.
“We needed a good win before Indoors,” Ashworth said. “And just to prove to ourselves that the early season adversity is behind us. I think we’re definitely moving in the right direction and playing with some confidence, which we need.”
The National Indoor Tournament begins Friday. The Blue Devils qualified last weekend with sweeps against Wisconsin and Wyoming and have yet to drop a match in the Spring season.
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