DURHAM, N.C. – The 14th- ranked Duke women’s tennis team seek to improve upon last season’s trip the NCAA Final Four when it kicks off the NCAA Tournament Saturday, May 11 against Ole Miss in the opening round in Lubbock, Texas, as announced by the organization Tuesday. Under head coach Jamie Ashworth, the Blue Devils have reached the NCAA Final Four five times, highlighted by a trip to the 2009 NCAA Finals where they topped UCLA to claim the title.
“We are looking forward to the challenge of playing Ole Miss in the first round of this year's NCAA tournament,” Ashworth said. “They are an extremely well coached team and we had a battle with them last year at the national team indoors. Coming out of the SEC they are used to tough matches and I know they will be ready to play. We have to have a great week of practice and prepare for what should be a really good match.
Duke has had a long history of success in the NCAA Tournament, earning bids to 24 consecutive tournaments, while totaling a 55-23 (.705) all-time record in the event. The Blue Devils’ .705 winning percentage is the fourth highest in the NCAA, and the squad has reached the NCAA Final Four eight times in program history.
Last season, the Blue Devils cruised past Winthrop and South Carolina, 4-0, in the first and second rounds respectively before topping Virginia, 4-1, to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. In their quarterfinal matchup, the Blue Devils edged Georgia, 4-2, before falling to eventual-champion Florida, 4-3, in the Final Four.
The match against Ole Miss is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT, with the winner advancing to face the winner of Texas Tech and College of Charleston in the second round Sunday, May 12 at 1 p.m. CT.
NCAA Championships
Lubbock, Texas • May 11-12
First Round • Saturday, May 11
Match 1 – Duke (14-9) vs. Ole Miss (16-13), 11 a.m. CT
Match 2 – (16) Texas Tech (19-6) vs. College of Charleston (20-8), Not before 2 p.m. CT
Second Round • Sunday, May 12
Match 3 – Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2, 1 p.m. CT
