April 11, 2007

Results

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Behind the stellar play of seniors Ashlee Davis and Christine Simpson, the 19th-ranked Wake Forest women's tennis team rolled to a 5-2 victory over No. 18 Duke in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match on Senior Day at the Indoor Tennis Center.

The Demon Deacons closed out the regular season with a 13-6 overall record and a 7-4 conference record.

"The last couple of matches at home were some tough losses as a team," said head coach Chad Skorupka. "I'm very happy that seniors Ashlee Davis and Christine Simpson were able to finish the regular season at home with a win over Duke."

Wake kicked off the match by clinching the doubles point to take the 1-0 lead. The Blue Devils picked up the first win at No. 3 where Amanda Granson and Jessi Robinson defeated Sierra Poske and Christine Simpson 8-2, but the home team was leading at both remaining doubles matches.

Ana Jerman and Sasha Kulikova recorded their fifth consecutive doubles win at the No. 2 spot; this time defeating Elizabeth Plotkin and Tory Zawacki, 8-3. The deciding match was left to Ashlee Davis and Alexandra Hirsch and minutes later the duo upset the fifth-ranked Duke tandem of Melissa Mang and Daniela Bercek, 8-6.

In singles, the Deacs extended their lead to 3-0 after wins at the No. 1 and No. 4 spots. No. 69 Hirsch put away No. 59 Bercek in straight 6-1 sets, while Kulikova got back to her winning ways with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Granson.

The Blue Devils (10-7, 5-4) cut the deficit to 3-1 when Plotkin defeated Jerman 6-3, 6-2, but it would not be long before Wake turned in another victory. Down in the first set, Davis came back to win 7-5 and clinched the match for the Deacs with a 6-4 second-set win over No. 75 Mang.

After the match was decided, Duke's Sawacki edged Poske at the fifth spot 6-2, 7-6. Simpson also came from behind to defeat Deltour 7-6, 6-3 for Wake's fifth and final point of the match.

Wake Forest returns to action next week at the ACC Championships in Cary, N.C. from April 19-22.