After sweeping Indiana 7-0 on Friday, Duke faced its sternest test of the spring thus far Sunday, and a resounding comeback in singles play ensured the No. 6 Blue Devils (6-0) remained undefeated after they squeaked past No. 23 Northwestern 4-3 in Evanston, Ill.
Duke dropped the doubles point for the first time all year, as each Blue Devil pairing fell to its Wildcat counterpart. Though the fourth-ranked senior tandem of Nadine Fahoum and Ellah Nze kept their match close, Northwestern (3-3) had already wrapped up the doubles point, nullifying the impact of the final result. Nze and Fahoum lost 6-8.
Freshman Rachel Kahan continued her stellar run of play in the spring, however, and evened the score at 1-1, quickly dispatching of Linda Abu Mushrefova 6-2, 6-1. Kahan’s victory improves her to 5-0 on the season in singles, and she has yet to drop a single set this spring.
The Wildcats soon answered back, however, as No. 52 Maria Mosolova blitzed No. 25 Fahoum, 6-1, 6-0. Duke senior Elizabeth Plotkin continued her dominance at the No. 3 position, playing a perfect first set en route to a 6-0, 6-3 win to even the match score at 2-2.
With No. 4 Reka Zsilinszka battling into a third set with No. 66 Brittany Wowchuk, the Blue Devils picked up a much needed point from sophomore Mary Clayton, who fended off Stacey Lee 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. Zsilinszka was unable to prevail in her matchup, though, losing 1-6, 6-4, 3-6 and putting all the pressure on senior Nze with the score tied at 3-3.
After splitting the first two sets with No. 76 Belinda Niu 2-6, 7-6, No 49. Nze’s play in the third set would decide Duke’s fate at the Combe Tennis Center. Luckily for the Blue Devils, Nze didn’t disappoint. Winning the third set 6-3, Nze raised her singles record to 5-0 on the spring, and Duke will now take their unblemished record back home to face No. 2 Florida on Feb. 13.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.