Charlottesville, Va. - The Long Island University women's tennis team fell to No. 10 Duke, 4-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, hosted by Virginia. The Blackbirds dropped the doubles point before falling three times in singles play to give the Blue Devils the win.

 

At No. 3 doubles, Duke's 73rd-ranked duo of Elizabeth Plotkin and Reka Zsilinszka defeated senior Stephanie Elie and junior Dara Lahens by an 8-0 margin. The Blue Devils secured the point when the No. 32 duo of Eliah Nze and Amanda Granson downed senior Selma Babic and freshman Aleksandra Pavlovic, 8-0, at No. 1.

 

In singles, Duke took a 2-0 lead when Grayson dealt freshman Taysha Blessington a 6-0; 6-0 loss at No. 4. At No. 2, Plotkin, ranked No. 81 in the nation, defeated freshman Linn Sjogren by the same margin. The Blue Devils wrapped up the win with a victory at the fifth spot as Monica Gorny beat Elie, 6-0; 6-1.

 

Long Island fell to 14-4, while Duke improved to 20-7.

 

1. No. 32 Eliah Nze/Amanda Granson def. Selma Babic/Aleksandra Pavlovic, 8-0

2. No. 38 Monica Gorny/Mary Clayton vs. Taysha Blessington/Linn Sjogren, 5-3, unfinished

3. No. 73 Elizabeth Plotkin/Reka Zsilinszka def. Stephanie Elie/Dara Lahens, 8-0

 

1. No. 47 Eze vs. Babic, 6-1, 3-0, unfinished

2. No. 81 Plotkin def. Sjogren, 6-0; 6-0

3. No. 34 Zsilinszka vs. Pavlovic, 6-1; 3-1, unfinished

4. Granson def. Blessington, 6-0; 6-0

5. Gorny def. Elie, 6-0; 6-1

6. Clayton vs. Lahens, 6-0; 2-1 unfinished