For a squad that is accustomed to success, the Blue Devils’ Round of 16 loss to top-ranked Florida was a disappointing end to last season.
Plagued by injuries, Duke struggled at times to even get a full squad on the court, playing several matches with five players and even recruiting a soccer player to fill the gap.
With two veterans returning to health this fall, two top new recruits—including the nation’s No. 1 ranked incoming freshman—and the return of former No. 1 seed Beatrice Capra, who served a suspension last spring, the Blue Devils are primed to reestablish their winning ways this fall.
“The dedication, determination and pride that we played with last spring has to carry over into this year with this new group,” head coach Jamie Ashworth said. “We have to put a product on the court that exemplifies those characteristics but also gives us something to build on.”
The top objective for the team this year will be keeping everyone healthy, Ashworth said. All-ACC players senior Rachel Kahan and junior Ester Goldfeld are both returning from injuries and the Blue Devils are anxious to get back on the court in preparation for the fast-approaching fall season.
Kahan, who boasts a 57-6 singles record in her first two seasons, underwent Tommy John surgery and will likely return by November. Goldfeld, has returned already after suffering a fracture in her hand, Ashworth said.
Joining the upperclassmen, the Blue Devils welcome Chalena Scholl and Alyssa Smith, ranked by Tennisrecruiting.net as the No. 1 and No. 11 recruits in the nation. Ashworth believes that the fall will give the incoming freshmen an opportunity to hone their skills and polish their playing styles for when spring rolls around.
Scholl, a Pompano Beach, Fla. native, took the junior tennis world by storm prior to matriculating to Duke.
Last December, Scholl reached the semifinals 2012 USTA Girls 18 National Championships held in San Diego, Calif. She was also a quarterfinalist in the Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship.
“We’re expecting a lot out of our freshmen,” Ashworth said. “Both Chalena and [Alyssa] bring a huge influx of knowledge and experience to our team and they fit right nicely with what we’re trying to do as a group.”
As for Scholl, her journey at Duke is underway and she is excited to immerse herself in the athletic culture as well as the academic culture at Duke.
“I love it,” Scholl said. “Everyone is so supportive. The team is great, the girls are great and the coaches are great, and everyone tries to help each other in any way they can.”
Scholl comes from a tennis-heavy background, with an older sister, 21-year old Chiara Scholl, who current plays on the WTA Tour.
Along with Smith and Scholl, the Blue Devils are excited to have Capra back in the lineup. After missing the entire spring campaign last season, she claims she will try to remain steady on and off the court and try to be a leader for the squad.
“I feel like I had a really productive summer,” Capra said. “I’m playing tournaments again, I’m healthy and I’ve been working on a lot so that I can come back to school strong.”
Upon returning, Capra is excited about what the freshmen will be able to bring to the table.
The Ellicott City, Md. native came into Duke as the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2011 and went on to win ITA National Co-Rookie of the Year honors with a 23-2 dual match record.
“[Scholl and Smith] are amazing recruits,” Capra said. “They are going to fit into our team nicely. They have great personalities and have been working really hard, and I’m excited to be around them.”
The Blue Devils are slated to begin their preseason contests on Sept. 13 in Cary, N.C. at the annual three-day Duke Invitational.
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