Nicole Lipp came to Duke to play soccer. What she wasn’t expecting was an offer from the Duke women’s tennis team as well.
Having started 85 of 90 games in her career, Lipp has seen her fair share of the soccer field. As a senior, she made her mark on the Duke soccer program, holding the school’s all-time assist record in NCAA tournament play.
But with a growing injury report for the tennis team, Lipp was presented with an opportunity to showcase her talent on the court.
“My first thought was that this could be kind of fun, not really thinking that it was reality,” Lipp said. “I was thrilled to have the opportunity to compete again.”
The Lake Forest, Ill. native first started playing soccer at the age of four, and has loved it ever since. “I kind of took off from an early age,” Lipp said. “I had a coach who was really passionate and instilled a love of the game in me.”
Aside from the numerous soccer accolades, before coming to Duke, Lipp also boasted an extremely impressive tennis career. She felt she could have attended college for either sport, but ultimately chose soccer.
“I first started playing tennis when I was little, around five or six,” Lipp said. “People ask me why I chose soccer all the time, but I really can’t pinpoint exactly why.”
She loves both sports. Although she decided to focus on soccer, Lipp admitted to missing tennis during her four years at Duke.
So when she received an email from the head coach of the women’s tennis team, Jamie Ashworth, about joining the team, it was an opportunity that she simply could not pass up.
“It’s kind of a funny story,” Lipp said. “I was in the K Center studying, when I received two text messages—one from [women’s soccer Sports Information Director] Lindy [Brown] and one from a trainer asking me if I play tennis. I went to my academic advisor’s office, and she filled me in on the situation.”
With three players out for the season and only five girls healthy enough to compete, the tennis team found themselves shorthanded midway through the spring season.
It’s difficult to play three doubles matches with five people, and that was precisely the situation that the Duke women’s tennis team was facing.
With sophomore Monica Turewicz recently out with an achilles injury, the program was at a standstill.
“There was mainly shock at first,” senior captain Mary Clayton said. “We were wondering how we were going to adjust to this and put ourselves in the best position to keep being successful even without Monica.”
Fueled by support from her soccer coaches and teammates, Lipp was eager to step right in and fill the gap left by Turewicz.
“She has worked really hard the past two weeks to get herself back into tennis shape,” Ashworth said. “She hasn’t played competitively in a few years but she’s a competitive person by nature, and she wants to be successful.”
Now one of two seniors on the team, Clayton is eager to have someone she can relate to and bond with during their time at Duke.
“Nicole was a blessing,” Clayton said. “Having her on the team has been a very seamless transition.”
After falling short in her debut against ACC rival N.C. State Saturday, Lipp maintained confidence alongside doubles partner junior Marianne Jodoin as they faced the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest Sunday.
The pair topped Brigita Bercyte and Andrea Retolaza with consistent serving and aggressive net play, to clinch the doubles point for the Blue Devils in an 8-4 win.
Players and coaches alike are confident that Lipp will continue to improve and hone her skills during the rest of the season and are extremely grateful for the role she has taken on.
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