Women's Tennis Falls to No. 11 Duke

Saturday, February 27

Durham, NC

2:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

Duke University

February 27, 2021 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Cards move to 5-4

By: Nancy Worley

DURHAM, N.C. -- The University of Louisville women's tennis team dropped its second match of the weekend on Saturday, falling 7-0 to No.11-ranked Duke at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.

Louisville is now 5-4, 2-2 in the ACC, while Duke improves to 7-1, 2-0 in conference action.

In doubles, Chelsea Sawyer and Dina Chaika took the early 1-0 lead at the No.3 spot until the Blue Devils' duo of Kelly Chen and Georgia Drummy responded to win 6-2. Rhea Verma and Andrea Di Palma battled to lead 2-1 at No.1, before Meible Chi and Margaryta Bilokin won five straight points to clinch the 1-0 lead for the Blue Devils. Cardinals' Raven Neely and Tatiana Simova dropped their first doubles matchup of the season, falling to Chloe Beck and Karolina Bernakova 6-1. The duo is now 8-1 in doubles competition.

The tough battle in doubles provided Duke with the momentum to put together a strong singles run, where they secured four straight courts to win their 51^st straight home match. No.29 ranked Chloe Beck defeated Raven Neely 6-1, 6-3 at No.3 before No.8 ranked Kelly Chen outlasted Nikolina Jovic 6-3, 6-1 to take the 3-0 lead. No.44 ranked Margaryta Bilokin clinched the match when she took down Chelsea Sawyer 6-0, 6-4 at No.4. The rest of the singles played out with Andrea Di Palma and Rhea Verma battling to third set tiebreakers on their respective courts before ultimately falling to the Blue Devils.

Louisville will face Virginia Tech and Virginia next weekend to conclude its longest road stretch of the season.

Tennis Match Results
Louisville vs Duke
2/27/21 at Durham, N.C.
(Ambler Tennis Stadium)
#11 Duke 7, Louisville 0
Singles competition
1. #28 Georgia Drummy (DU) def. Andrea DiPalma (LOU) 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-3)
2. #8 Kelly Chen (DU) def. Nikolina Jovic (LOU) 6-3, 6-1
3. #29 Chloe Beck (DU) def. Raven Neely (LOU) 6-1, 6-3
4. #44 Margaryta Bilokin (DU) def. Chelsea Sawyer (LOU) 6-0, 6-4
5. #111 Meible Chi (DU) def. Rhea Verma (LOU) 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10-3)
6. #95 Karolina Berankova (DU) def. Jelena Vujanic (LOU) 6-2, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Meible Chi/Margaryta Bilokin (DU) def. Rhea Verma/Andrea DiPalma (LOU) 6-2
2. Chloe Beck/Karolina Berankova (DU) def. Raven Neely/Tatiana Simova (LOU) 6-1
3. Kelly Chen/Georgia Drummy (DU) def. Chelsea Sawyer/Dina Chaika (LOU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Louisville 5-4, 2-2 (ACC)
Duke 7-1, 2-0 (ACC); National ranking #11
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,2,4,6,1,5)
First match played outside in 2021 at Ambler Tennis Stadium