Competition Results

May 19, 2009

NCAA Division I Tennis Championships
Women’s National Championship Match
May 19, 2009
George P. Mitchell Tennis Center
College Station Texas
(Attendance: 1,224)

#3 Duke 4, #8 California 0
RECORDS: Duke 29-3; California 22-5

SINGLES

1. (#6) Mallory Cecil, DU vs. (#11) Jana Juricova, CAL, 6-4, 3-2, DNF
2. (#37) Ellah Nze, DU vs. (#26) Marina Cossou, CAL, 3-6, 4-2, DNF
3. (#30) Reka Zsilinszka, DU def. (#41) Mari Andersson, CAL, 6-1, 6-2
4. (#91) Amanda Granson, DU vs. (#32) Bojana Bobusic, CAL, 6-0, 6-6, DNF
5. (#122) Melissa Mang, DU def. Stephany Chang, CAL, 6-1, 6-3
6. Jessi Robinson, DU def. Marion Ravelojaona, CAL, 6-2, 6-4

DOUBLES

1. (#22) Granson/Mang, DU vs. (#7) Andersson/Juricova, CAL, 5-7, DNF
2. (#53) Robinson/Cecil, DU def. (#35) Cossou/Ilcinkas, CAL, 8-5
3. Zsilinszka/Nze, DU def. Bobusic/Chang, CAL, 8-4

ORDER OF FINISH

Doubles: 3, 2
Singles: 3, 6, 5

NOTES

Duke wins its first national championship in women’s tennis...The Blue Devils were the runner-up in 1998, their only other appearance in the championship match...California was making its second consecutive and second overall appearance in the national championship match...Cal eliminated Duke in the round of 16 at the 2008 NCAA Championships in Tulsa, Okla...Last year, Cal fell to UCLA, 4-0, in the Golden Bears’ first appearance in the national championship match...2009 NCAA Championship all-tournament team: No. 1 Doubles: Mari Andersson/Jana Juricova, California; No. 2 Doubles: Julia Cohen/Bianca Eichkorn, Miami; No. 3 Doubles: Shannon Mathews/Colleen Rielley, Notre Dame; No. 1 Singles: Chelsey Gullickson, Georgia; No. 2 singles: Lenka Broosova, Baylor; No. 3 singles: Reka Zsilinszka, Duke; No. 4 singles: Amanda Granson, Duke; No. 5 singles: Melissa Mang, Duke; No. 6 singles: Cameron Ellis, Georgia; Tournament MVP: Reka Zsilinszka, Duke...Attendance: 1,224.

QUOTES

California Head Coach Amanda Augustus: “I thought that in the doubles, it was good tennis on all of the courts. At one, the match was real close and we were in control of that match. At three, we got into a bit of a hole, but we were battling back. At two, they were having a great match; unfortunately it came to an abrupt end for us. We tried our best to recover from it, but I really think that it took a lot of wind out of our sails. To Duke’s credit, they really stepped up and took advantage of the situation. They came out in the singles after getting that doubles point, and it really lifted their emotions and got rid of their nerves. They just played. They really just took it to us at the start of the singles. I’m really proud of my girls. I think that they gave everything that they had, and were fighting back on a lot of courts. They were trying to keep us out there as long as possible to see if we could turn some matches around. You could tell that Duke wanted it today. Hats off to them. They played great, and they had a great tournament.”

Duke Head Coach Jamie Ashworth: “We came out in doubles and played really well. We came out very relaxed. I don’t know what caused us to be relaxed, but it really worked for us. Everyone was nervous while we were warming up, but a Jimmy Buffett song came on and we all started laughing, because I am a huge fan, and they can’t stand it. It was great timing in helping us relax. I was impressed in how we stayed in matches. What I did not want was for Cal to get a quick doubles point. They have been so good in doubles in the past. We have struggled against Cal in the past, but we came out and got a great start in singles. Looking at the scores all the way down was great. It was also great to see our two seniors clinch the match for us. I know they enjoyed that. Reka (Zsilinszka) is a nightmare to play. She doesn’t give away free points. She makes you earn them, and a lot of her opponents don’t want to have to do what it takes to beat her because she keeps them out there so long.”

Duke senior Melissa Mang: “This really hasn’t sunk in yet. It is so unbelievable. I had no idea that I was about to clinch the match, so I was surprised when everyone came running up to me.”

Duke sophomore and tournament MVP Reka Zsilinszka: “This was just great, and I couldn’t ask for better people for it to happen with.”