Day four of the ITA Southeast Regional Championships concluded Sunday in Chapel Hill with Duke in prime position for the final day of matches Monday.
Senior Jackie Carleton defeated Wake Forest's Alexandra Hirsh, 6-0, 6-4, to move on to Monday's semifinals. Carleton will face top-ranked Kim Coventry of Kentucky in one semifinal match. Carleton has yet to play a three-set match this tournament, but head coach Jamie Ashworth said her matches have been tough.
"The score might not show it, but Jackie plays extremely long matches," Ashworth said. "With her confidence, she has been tough to beat. You have to beat her, she never beats herself. She's controlling points from the baseline and believing in herself more in her second year at Duke."
The Blue Devils' number one doubles team gave themselves a chance at the title. The combination of junior Daniela Bercek and freshman Jessi Robinson, beat teammates Jennifer Zika and Melissa Mang, 9-8.
A third Blue Devil pairing of junior Kristin Cargill and Carleton nearly made it an all Duke final. They were denied the opportunity, however, after being beaten in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (3), by the Kentucky duo of Coventry and Joelle Schwenk. Ashworth has been very pleased with his doubles teams throughout the first month of the season-four pairs reached the quarters, two the semifinals, and one the finals at the ITA Regionals.
"We haven't had any doubles teams play this well in four years," Ashworth said. "With every match, we've improved. I have been really pleased with our doubles play all weekend."
Duke freshman Tara Iyer had an impressive showing, reaching the round of 16 in singles and the doubles quarterfinals with sophomore partner Clelia Deltour.
"Tara was disappointed with her loss, but she's learning," Ashworth said. "She has never played on a team with everybody supporting and believing in each other."
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