Tigers Fall to #8 Duke, Head to ACC Championships Next Week

CLEMSON, S.C. – Sunday was a special day for Joana Eidukonyte. The native of Vilnius, Lithuania was honored on her Senior Day and also presented the Key to the City of Clemson by Clemson Mayor J.C. Cook prior to the match, and she went on to finish the day winning her match at No. 2 singles in convincing fashion. Unfortunately, the senior’s win was not enough, as the Tigers (10-9, 8-6 ACC) fell to eighth-ranked Duke (18-5, 11-3 ACC) by a score of 5-2 in their final match of the season at Hoke Sloan Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.

The Blue Devils opened doubles play with a quick win on Court 1, but the matches at No. 2 and 3 were very competitive, with Duke ultimately winning the point with a 6-4 victory at No. 3. Tristen Dewar, who was also honored on Senior Day prior to the match, and Ally Miller-Krasilnikov were in a 5-6 battle at No. 2 when doubles play was halted.

Duke kept its momentum going into singles, winning at No. 4, 5 and 1 singles, in that order, to claim the team victory. Eidukonyte’s straight-set win at No. 2, by a score of 6-3, 6-1, put Clemson on the board, and Daniela Ruiz secured the Tigers’ second point, winning in a gutsy performance at No. 6, 6-2, 5-7, 1-0(10-4).

Clemson awaits its seed and opponent for the 2016 ACC Championships, which will be announced on Sunday evening. The Tigers will play their first match of the tournament on Thursday, April 21, with the time and opponent to be determined. The tournament is being held at the Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C.

#8 Duke 5, #28 Clemson 2

SINGLES1. #97 Chalena Scholl (DU) def. #40 Ayan Broomfield (CU) 6-3, 6-32. #23 Joana Eidukonyte (CU) def. #41 Kaitlyn McCarthy (DU) 6-3, 6-13. Samantha Harris (DU) def. Fernanda Navarro (CU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)4. #124 Ellyse Hamlin (DU) def. Ally Miller-Krasilnikov (CU) 6-3, 6-25. Jessica Ho (DU) def. Tristen Dewar (CU) 6-2, 6-26. Daniela Ruiz (CU) def. Christina Makarova (DU) 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (10-4)Order of finish: 4,5,1,2,3,6

DOUBLES1. Samantha Harris/Kaitlyn McCarthy (DU) def. Joana Eidukonyte/Fernanda Navarro (CU) 6-02. Tristen Dewar/Ally Miller-Krasilnikov (CU) vs. Chalena Scholl/Alyssa Smith (DU) 5-6, unfinished3. Ellyse Hamlin/Jessica Ho (DU) def. Ayan Broomfield/Daniela Ruiz (CU) 6-4Order of finish: 1,3