DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke women’s tennis team closed the 2012-13 campaign listed No. 14 in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, announced Tuesday by the organization. The Blue Devils ended the season ranked in the top 25 teams for the 25th consecutive season
The Blue Devils closed the 2012-13 campaign with a 16-10 ledger on the season, including 14 victories over ranked opponents. During the regular season, the Blue Devils reached the semifinals of the 2013 ITA National Indoor Championships, before falling to eventual champion North Carolina. Duke posted an impressive 4-0 shutout over then-No. 2 Florida on Feb. 17 with a crowd close to 800 on hand at Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.
In a season filled with adversity, Duke was able to fight through and reached the NCAA Round of 16 for the fifth consecutive season. The Blue Devils travelled to Lubbock, Texas to compete in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Duke dropped Ole Miss in the first round, 4-1, while edging host Texas Tech in a thrilling win, 4-3, to punch its ticket into the NCAA Round of 16 in Urbana, Ill. The Blue Devils season came to an end against top-seeded Florida, 4-0, in the NCAA Round of 16.
Three Blue Devils were selected to play in the NCAA Individual Championships, as junior Hanna Mar was selected to compete in the singles field. The tandem of senior Mary Clayton and sophomore Ester Goldfeld were selected to compete in the doubles field, but the duo was unable to compete due to injury. Mar’s season came to a close, as she dropped a hard-fought match to Tulsa’s No. 18 Samantha Vickers in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Clayton was named as the winner of the Regional ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship. The award is given to a Division I women’s player who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and unwavering dedication to her team; with exceptional hard work, courage, sportsmanship, and a positive cooperative attitude that makes people around her play better.
Mar, Golfeld and Clayton received All-ACC accolades for their seasons, as voted on by the league’s 12 coaches.
