COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Senior Mary Clayton claimed her 29th career Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) singles win, but the 11th ranked Duke women’s tennis team were unable to capitalize, falling to Maryland, 4-3, Friday. The win is the first conference win of the season for the Terrapins, and drops the Blue Devils to 14-8 on the year, and 5-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play.
In doubles action, the Blue Devils forfeited the third doubles position for the sixth consecutive match, but rallied when junior Marianne Jodoin and sophomore Annie Mulholland cruised past Olga Gaistruk and Nataliya Bredikhina, 8-1.
In the top position, the tandem of junior Hanna Mar and Clayton traded games early with Vroni Van Berlo and Sarah Gealer to find themselves level at 4-4. After the Terrapins held serve, the Duke duo was unable to hold serve themselves, and fell behind 5-7. Maryland served for the final game, clinching the doubles point for the Terrapins.
As singles play began, Duke found themselves down 2-0 after forfeiting the match on court six, but again responded when Mulholland overwhelmed Gaistruk, 6-1, 6-1, on court three.
Jodoin, listed at No. 107 in the latest ITA poll, tied the match at 2-2 when she cruised pasted Tali, 6-1, 6-0, to claim her 22nd consecutive singles victory. Jodoin, a native of Varennes, Quebec, has recorded a perfect 16-0 record in dual matches this season, including a 5-0 mark in ACC play.
On court two, No. 101 Clayton topped Gealer, 7-5, 6-1, to record her 29th career ACC victory, moving her into sole possession of third place on Duke’s all-time list. Clayton, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., now owns a 10-6 singles record in dual matches this season.
In the fifth position, senior Nicole Lipp battled in the opening set against Gabriela Srodowski, but in the end was unable to slow Srodowski, dropping the set, 6-4. In the second set, Srodowski continued her solid play, outlasting Lipp, 6-1, to level the match at 3-3.
After the match became level at 3-3, all eyes turned to court one where No. 25 Mar dropped the first set, 6-1, to Van Berlo but responded in the second by taking the set, 6-3. In the third and final set, both players traded games before Mar was able to take the advantage by breaking serve to take a 4-3 advantage. Mar capitalized on the mistake by Van Berlo by holding serve to take a commanding 5-3 advantage, but was unable to close out the match, tying the third set at 5-5. Van Berlo held serve to take a 6-5 lead, and closed out the match by breaking Mar's serve to clinch the match for Maryland, providing the Terrapins their first ACC win of the season.
The Blue Devils return to the courts Saturday as they travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass., to take on No. 63 Boston College at 5 p.m.
Duke vs. Maryland
April 19, 2013
College Park, Md.
Maryland 4, Duke 3
Singles Competition
1. Vroni Van Berlo (MD) def. No. 25 Hanna Mar (Duke), 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
2. No. 101 Mary Clayton (Duke) def. Sarah Gealer (MD), 7-5, 6-1
3. Annie Mulholland (Duke) def. Olga Gaistruk, 6-1, 6-1
4. No. 107 Marianne Jodoin (Duke) def. Nataliya Bredikhina (MD), 6-1, 6-0
5. Gabriela Srodowski def. Nicole Lipp (Duke), 6-4, 6-1
6. Maryland wins by forfeit
Doubles Competition
1. Gealer/Van Berlo (MD) def. Clayton/Mar (Duke), 8-5
2. Jodoin/Mulholland (Duke) def. Bredikhina/Gaistruk (MD), 8-1
3. Maryland wins by forfeit
Match Notes:
Doubles (3,2,1) Singles (6, 3, 4, 2, 5, 1)
