W. Tennis Edges No. 10 Duke, 4-3

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s tennis team earned a top-10 victory on its home court Sunday afternoon, taking down No. 10 Duke, 4-3, at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

Ninth-ranked Miami (12-3, 7-2 ACC) took the first three points of the match and then clinched the match behind a three-set, top-20 triumph atop the lineup.

“Not our greatest match, but we found out a way to get it done today,” Miami head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “We have to get in a great week of practice and look forward to a competitive Columbia team.”

The Hurricanes got off to a strong start by taking a pair of doubles matches. First, sophomores Audrey Boch-Collins and Isabella Pfennig defeated Kelly Chen and Georgia Drummy, 6-4.

Minutes later, fourth-year junior Daevenia Achong and fifth-year senior Eden Richardson, together ranked No. 20, clinched the doubles point for Miami by beating No. 75 Margaryta Bilokin and Eliza Omirou, 6-4.

The final match was played out, with Duke (11-3, 6-2 ACC) taking a narrow victory, as Chloe Beck and Ellie Coleman topped the No. 62-ranked pair of third-year sophomores Diana Khodan and Maya Tahan.

Boch-Collins opened singles play for the Hurricanes in dominant fashion, posting a spectacular 6-0, 6-0 win against Bilokin. It marked the first 6-0, 6-0 victory by a Miami player this spring.

Tahan also logged a milestone triumph in her match, as she picked up a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 result versus No. 89 Jackson, extending the edge to 3-0. The victory was her first as a collegian over a ranked singles opponent.

Seventh-ranked Chloe Beck got the Blue Devils on the board by defeating No. 46 Richardson, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

No. 52 Achong, though, quickly countered with a win to seal the match. She beat No. 20 Drummy for the second time in 2021-22, earning her third top-20 victory as a collegian and second this weekend with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-0 decision.

With the result already in hand, the final two matches were played out. First, Chen edged No. 64 Pfennig, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, to make it 4-2. Ellie Coleman tacked on the final point for Duke with a lengthy 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Khodan.

For Miami, the victory is its fifth of the season over a top-20 foe, including the third against a top-15 team. In addition, it is the first win over a top-10 opponent since April 23, 2021, against sixth-ranked Florida State in the ACC Championship quarterfinals in Rome, Ga.

Up next for the Hurricanes is a neutral-site matchup with Columbia, slated for Friday at 5 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., as part of the Miami Open.

To keep up with the University of Miami women’s tennis team on social media, follow @CanesWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

RESULTS

Doubles Competition
1. No. 20 Daevenia Achong/Eden Richardson (UM) def. No. 75 Margaryta Bilokin/Eliza Omirou (DU), 6-4
2. Chloe Beck/Ellie Coleman (DU) def. No. 62 Diana Khodan/Maya Tahan (UM), 6-4
3. Audrey Boch-Collins/Isabella Pfennig (UM) def. Kelly Chen/Georgia Drummy (DU), 6-3

Singles Competition
1. No. 52 Daevenia Achong (UM) def. No. 20 Georgia Drummy (DU), 6-3, 5-7, 6-0
2. No. 7 Chloe Beck (DU) def. No. 46 Eden Richardson (UM), 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
3. Kelly Chen (DU) def. No. 64 Isabella Pfennig (UM), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
4. Maya Tahan (UM) def. No. 89 Emma Jackson (DU), 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
5. Audrey Boch-Collins (UM) def. Margaryta Bilokin (DU), 6-0, 6-0
6. Ellie Coleman (DU) def. Diana Khodan (UM), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4