Still down 3-1 after a Julie DeRoo victory over No. 4 Vanderbilt's Kate Burson in the semifinals of the USTA/ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championships, the Blue Devils won the first sets of two of the remaining three singles matches to swing the momentum away from the Commodores.
However, Jenny Miller recaptured it all back in a narrow 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3, upset of Amanda Johnson that clinched a spot in the tournament finals for Vanderbilt (12-0).
"All six singles matches went into three sets," coach Jamie Ashworth said. "It was the first time in my seven years at Duke I've even been a part of something like that. It was a great match, but we just ended up on the short end of it."
Despite the neck-and-neck effort, the No. 2 Blue Devils (5-1)--whose memories of defeat last spring to the Commodores in the NCAA quarterfinals still linger--could not win the tight matches against a Vanderbilt squad that is off to its best start in program history.
Duke freshman phenom Kelly McCain fell to 27th-ranked Sarah Riske 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 at the No. 1 singles spot, and Katie Granson, who played admirably in her first national tournament since debilitating shoulder surgery, just got nipped by Audra Falk.
In order to reach its highly contested semifinal matchup against Vanderbilt, Duke played solid tennis against overmatched Oklahoma State and North Carolina teams.
Yawning through a 7-0 walloping of the Cowboys, in which they did not lose a set in singles play, the Blue Devils upped their all-time record to 11-2 in the first round of the ITA National Indoors.
Nevertheless, Friday's quarterfinal matchup against a much-improved No. 16 Tar Heel team proved to be a more difficult victory. Needing a heroic 9-8 Hillary Adams/Julie DeRoo victory to secure the doubles point, the Blue Devils put North Carolina away 5-2 with dominating singles performances.
"The North Carolina match was our best match," Ashworth said. "We did a good job coming out with a lot of energy and not letting Carolina get any confidence at all."
Although Duke did not advance to the finals of the prestigious early season tournament, Ashworth remains heartened by his team's performance.
"Our doubles needs work, but I think it shows that we can win six singles matches against anyone in the country," he said.
Including Vanderbilt.
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