On a pleasant fall day in the city of Waco, Texas, senior Ellie Coleman and freshman Irina Balus gracefully stepped onto the court at the Hurd Tennis Center. This was the stage for the quarterfinals of the highly anticipated NCAA Singles Championship. These two players had achieved a remarkable feat by reaching the farthest among any Duke women's doubles teams in the past six years. They were the only ones left in both the singles and doubles sections of the tournament, facing tough opponents from Florida - Alicia Dudeney and Rachel Gailis. Gailis, in particular, was ranked No. 7 in singles play before the preseason, adding to the challenge.

Hard Work and Success in the Tournament

Although Coleman and Balus faced a setback by losing two sets, 6-4 and 6-1, to the Gators, their journey was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Blue Devil squad. Senior Emma Jackson also made her mark by reaching the round of 32 in singles play during her second appearance in the tournament. Stanford transfer Eleana Yu and sophomore Shavit Kimchi unfortunately fell in the first round of play alongside Balus.Each member of the squad had a distinct path to the tournament. The 2024-25 season marked the first time the NCAA Singles Championship was held in the fall, instead of the usual spring alongside the team NCAA Championship. This increased the stakes early in the season as every Duke player fought for a place in the bracket.However, the fall season served as a valuable learning experience for the Blue Devils, especially the freshmen. Coach Jamie Ashworth emphasized the importance of staying true to their game and not focusing too much on the outcome.

Balus' Journey to the Tournament

Just a week before the tournament began, Balus secured her spot. At the ITA Sectionals on Nov. 11, the native of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, demonstrated her skills by qualifying for both the singles and doubles sides. Although she lost in the first round of singles, 6-2, 7-5, she shined in the doubles round. Coleman and Balus proved to be a formidable duo despite their age difference.The freshman-senior pair started the second day of the tournament strongly. After most of the Blue Devil squad, including Balus, lost in the first round of singles, the pressure was on Duke. As Balus and Coleman traded rallies with the 23rd-ranked pair from Tennessee, Eliza Tomase and Catherin Aulia, the match was closely contested. However, Coleman and Balus managed to secure a 5-7, 6-4 tiebreaker victory, marking the beginning of their impressive doubles run.

Jackson's Performances in the Tournament

On the singles side, Jackson stepped up to the service line. The native of La Grange Park, Ill., had a successful day in the round of 64, winning 6-3, 7-6 against Oklahoma's Alina Shcherbinina. She won her first three service games and showed great determination. However, Shcherbinina made a comeback in the second set, keeping the game close. The two traded the lead until the set was tied at 6-6. Jackson then pulled through in the tiebreaker with a 7-3 victory, achieving her first career victory in the NCAA Singles Championship.In her next match against 12th-ranked Julia Fliegner of Michigan, Jackson maintained her energy from the previous day by winning the opening game. But Fliegner won three straight games and took the first set, 6-3. Fliegner never trailed in the second set and won 6-3, ending Duke's run in the singles tournament.

Balus and Coleman's Final Stand in the Tournament

As the lone Blue Devils left in the tournament, Balus and Coleman represented the Blue Devil spirit in the second round. Facing 20th-ranked Lily Fairclough and Grace Piper of USC, they never trailed and maintained a tight lead. They took the winning set without dropping a point, achieving a 7-5, 6-3 victory. This made them the 11th doubles team in program history to reach the quarterfinals. However, their historic run came to an end the next day with a loss to Florida.The Blue Devils now look forward to resuming team play in the spring, with their sights set on the NCAA Team Tournament.