May 9, 2008

DURHAM, N.C. - Competing in its first NCAA Women's Tennis Tournament since 2003, Temple fell at ninth-ranked Duke on Friday, 4-0, at the University of Amber Tennis Stadium on the Duke University campus in opening round play.

The Blue Devils (19-4) received victories from the third, fourth and fifth flights to down the Owls (16-5), who represented the Atlantic 10 after taking their fourth-ever Conference crown on Apr. 20. After the pairing of Amanda Granson and Melissa Mang clinched the doubles point over Temple sophomores Anastasiia Rukavyshnyikova and Christine Clermont (8-2), Duke took each of their singles match victories without surrendering more than a single point.

Temple's season leader in wins and reining A-10 Most Outstanding Performer Dina Senkina did not finish her No. 1 singles match, neither did sophomore teammate Elyse Steiner or junior Felicia Frazier. Senkina finishes the season with a record of 13-5 in No. 1-2 singles, while Steiner ends the year with a 10-4 mark.

Rukavyshnyikova battled Duke's Amanda Granson to a 6-1, 6-1 loss, while Temple freshman Lucie Pazderova was on the losing end of a 6-1, 6-0 decision to No. 24 Reka ZSillinszka. The third flight match ended with Duke's Melissa Mang besting Clermont, 6-1, 6-1.