DURHAM – The 21st-ranked Duke women’s tennis team heads to Knoxville, Tenn., for the NCAA Tournament First and Second Rounds, which will be hosted by 16th-seeded Tennessee at Barksdale Stadium.
The Blue Devils (15-9) are set to face 65th-ranked East Tennessee State (17-7) on Saturday, May 4 at 10 a.m., in the first round. The Lady Vols (18-7) will host Murray State (17-5) in the first round on May 4 at 1 p.m. The winning teams of both matches will meet on Sunday, May 5 at 1 p.m., for a chance to advance to the NCAA Super Regional.
To follow the matches, head to www.GoDuke.com for live video and scoring. Cracked Racquets will also provide live coverage via its CrossCourt Cast coverage.
Duke in the NCAA Championship
In 34 appearances, the Blue Devils have tallied an 80-33 record for a 70.8 winning percentage, advanced to the NCAA Semifinals 11 different times and won the 2009 NCAA Championship. Duke head coach Jamie Ashworth has guided the Blue Devils into the NCAA Tournament each of his 28 seasons at Duke, including nine semifinal trips and the 2009 title. The Blue Devils have advanced to the NCAA semifinals in three out of the last five NCAA Tournament appearances.
Ashworth owns a record of 68-25 (.731) in the tournament over his tenure at the helm of the program.
Duke will travel for only the sixth time for the NCAA First and Second Rounds. Other years the Blue Devils have been away from Durham were 2020-21 in Waco, Texas, 2014-15 in Athens, Ga., 2009-10 in Charlottesville, Va., in 2006-07 in Chapel Hill, N.C., and in 1998-99 in Albuquerque, N.M.
The Blue Devils boast a record of 8-2 in NCAA First and Second Rounds at other sites.
The Series with East Tennessee State
Duke and East Tennessee State will face off for only the second time in series history. Duke holds a 1-0 all-time record against the Buccaneers, winning its last match, 4-0, in 2014 in the NCAA Tournament first round in Durham, N.C.
Scouting East Tennessee State
East Tennessee State owns a 17-7 overall record on the season with an undefeated mark in the Southern Conference at 7-0. In their last match, the Buccaneers bested Furman in the Southern Conference Championship, 4-1, on April 20, 2024.
In the latest ITA rankings, East Tennessee State slots at No. 65 in the team standings.
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