Wake Forest University
#7 Duke
Wake Forest Falls 6-1 against No. 7 Duke
3/24/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 24, 2013
By Currie McFayden, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWTennis)
DURHAM, N.C. - Brigita Bercyte put Wake Forest on the board with a statement victory at No. 6 singles, but the Demon Deacons could not overpower No. 7 Duke in the overall match, dropping a 6-1 decision on Sunday afternoon.
With the loss, the Deacs fall to 1-12 on the season and 0-3 in ACC play, while the Blue Devils improve to 11-3 with a perfect 2-0 mark in conference matches.
In doubles action, Duke's Hanna Mar and Mary Clayton jumped out to a quick win for the Blue Devils, downing Karen Forman and Xue Zhang 8-0 at the No. 2 spot.
Bercyte and Andrea Retolaza put up a strong fight at No. 3 doubles, fighting to claim four games, but the Blue Devil duo of Marianne Jodoin and Nicole Lipp were ultimately too much for the Deacs in an 8-4 setback.
With the pair of wins, Duke earned the doubles point to claim a 1-0 overall lead in the match heading into singles. Kathryn Talbert and Kasey Gardiner, competing against the No. 51 team of Ester Goldfeld and Annie Mulholland at No. 1 doubles, chose to leave their match unfinished with the score all square at 5-5.
In singles play, Duke also got off to a fast start with a win at No. 5 singles. No. 84 Jodoin controlled the match against Retolaza, forcing the freshman off her game en route to a 6-0, 6-1 victory to give the Blue Devils a 2-0 overall advantage.
At the No. 6 singles spot, Bercyte put together her best match of the season and picked up her first win since Feb. 8 by downing Lipp 6-1, 6-1. The outcome of the match was never truly in doubt, as the junior stormed out to an early lead in the first set and never looked back to give the Deacs their lone point of the day.
Gardiner, matched up against No. 35 Goldfeld at No. 2 singles, fought hard but could not overcome her opponent. The freshman dropped the 6-1, 6-2 decision despite her strong efforts on the afternoon.
The Blue Devils managed to clinch the match at No. 3 singles, taking an insurmountable 4-1 lead as No. 88 Clayton defeated Zhang 6-3, 6-2. The freshman, who had won six of her previous nine matches, pushed Clayton but ultimately could not claim the victory.
Even with the overall match clinched, Forman and Talbert opted to play out their matches at No. 4 and No. 1 singles, respectively. Both managed to take six games off their opponents, but fell by identical 6-3, 6-3 scores to Mulholland and No. 16 Mar.
Wake Forest will return to action on Thursday, Mar. 28, as the Deacs travel to Tallahassee, Fla., for an ACC showdown with No. 24 Florida State at 4:00 p.m. The squad will be seeking its first win over the Seminoles since a 4-1 victory in the ACC Tournament on Apr. 20, 2006.
#7 Duke 6, Wake Forest 1
Singles Competition
1. #16 Hanna Mar (DUKE) def. Kathryn Talbert (WF) 6-3, 6-3
2. #35 Ester Goldfeld (DUKE) def. Kasey Gardiner (WF) 6-1, 6-2
3. #88 Mary Clayton (DUKE) def. Xue Zhang (WF) 6-3, 6-2
4. Annie Mulholland (DUKE) def. Karen Forman (WF) 6-3, 6-3
5. #84 Marianne Jodoin (DUKE) def. Andrea Retolaza (WF) 6-0, 6-1
6. Brigita Bercyte (WF) def. Nicole Lipp (DUKE) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Competition
1. #51 Ester Goldfeld/Annie Mulholland (DUKE) vs. Kathryn Talbert/Kasey Gardiner (WF) 5-5, unfinished
2. Hanna Mar/Mary Clayton (DUKE) def. Xue Zhang/Karen Forman (WF) 8-0
3. Marianne Jodoin/Nicole Lipp (DUKE) def. Brigita Bercyte/Andrea Retolaza (WF) 8-4
Match Notes:
Wake Forest 1-12
Duke 11-3; National ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3*); Singles (5,6,2,3*,4,1)
T-2:59 A-121
Players Mentioned
