Baylor University Team Page
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - In the opening match of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, the 15th-ranked Baylor women's tennis team fell to No. 2 Duke, 4-2, on Friday at the Boar's Head Sports Club.
"We came out and did a better job focusing today than we did at Florida," head coach Joey Scrivano said. "We just have to keep improving and tomorrow take our focus to another level. We have to become a more disciplined team."
Baylor (3-2), which is unseeded in the 16-team tournament, has lost two-straight matches, after being swept by No. 1 Florida on Feb. 2. BU will now face ninth-ranked and seventh-seeded, Alabama on Saturday in consolation round action.
In Friday's match, Baylor lost the doubles point for a third consecutive match. The No. 2 duo of Alex Leatu and Victoria Kisialeva came up short against Marianne Jodoin and Annie Mulholland, 8-4. Meanwhile, BU's top tandem of Ema Burgic and Kiah Generette fell by an identical 8-4 score vs. Mary Clayton and Ester Goldfeld.
The Blue Devils would keep the momentum in their favor as singles play opened. Duke won five of six first sets. The 40th-ranked Goldfeld converted that advantage into a quick 6-1, 6-1 victory over Jordaan Sanford at the No. 3 spot. Baylor would then be pushed to the edge of defeat as the No. 53 Clayton took care of Megan Horter, 6-2, 6-2, at the No. 2 position.
To snag Baylor's lone point on the day Ema Burgic pulled off the best win of her career. The 16th-ranked sophomore upset 10th-ranked Hanna Mar, 6-1, 6-4 at the top of the singles lineup.
"Ema didn't play very well in doubles, but she did a great job bouncing back in singles," Scrivano said. "She did a much better job focusing and executing in singles."
Duke got its clinching point as No. 63 Marianne Jodoin bested Leatu, 6-4, 6-3, at the No. 6.
Baylor is now 0-4 all-time against Duke as the Blue Devils improve to 5-0 on the season.
The ITA National Team Indoor Championship tournament central page is located at www.itatennis.com and features links to live scoring and other event information.
Follow @BaylorWTennis for updates on the team all season.
