Thrilling Matchup: NC State’s Pack Falls 4-3 to Blue Devils – Game Highlights & Analysis

DURHAM, NC – The No. 10 NC State women’s tennis team faced a tough challenge on Friday, narrowly losing to No. 7 Duke, finishing 4-3 at Ambler Tennis Stadium.

The match kicked off with doubles play, where Duke quickly established dominance, winning 6-1 on court three. In a thrilling showcase, the NC State pairing of Gabriella Broadfoot and Maddy Zampardo won 6-4 against 13th-ranked Irina Balus and Ellie Coleman. In a closely contested battle on court two, Jasmine Conway and Anna Zyryanova fought to a 5-5 tie before Duke clinched the doubles point, winning 7-5.

With the team trailing 1-0, NC State looked to turn the tide in singles matches. However, Duke’s No. 25 Emma Jackson continued their momentum, defeating Maddy Zampardo 6-3, 6-4.

Yet, NC State’s freshman standout, Michaela Laki, turned the match around. Ranked No. 27, she delivered a remarkable performance by defeating No. 12 Irina Balus 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, marking her fourth win this season against a top-50 opponent.

Next, Gabriella Broadfoot came through for the Wolfpack, winning 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 against Emma Jackson, which improved her dual match record to an impressive 9-2. Continuing the charge, Anna Zyryanova secured the lead for NC State after a tough 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Liv Hovde.

With everything riding on the final match, freshman Mia Slama fought hard on court six. Although she took the second set, her opponent, No. 125 Ellie Coleman, managed to win 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, sealing the match for Duke.

Looking ahead, NC State will travel to Chapel Hill on March 23 to take on No. 4 North Carolina.

Match Results:

• Singles

  1. Michaela Laki (ST) def. Irina Balus (DUKE) 3-6, 6-0, 6-2
  2. Anna Zyryanova (ST) def. Liv Hovde (DUKE) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
  3. Emma Jackson (DUKE) def. Maddy Zampardo (ST) 6-3, 6-4
  4. Gabriella Broadfoot (ST) def. Eleana Yu (DUKE) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
  5. Shavit Kimchi (DUKE) def. Kristina Paskauskas (ST) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
  6. Ellie Coleman (DUKE) def. Mia Slama (ST) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
• Doubles
  1. Broadfoot/Zampardo (ST) def. Balus/Coleman (DUKE) 6-4
  2. Kimchi/Krug (DUKE) def. Conway/Zyryanova (ST) 7-5
  3. Jackson/Hovde (DUKE) def. Paskauskas/Laki (ST) 6-1

NC State now stands at 9-4 overall and 4-1 in the ACC, while Duke improves to 13-2 and remains unbeaten in the conference at 5-0. The order of finish was (Doubles 3,1,2; Singles 3,1,4,2,5,6).

Despite the loss, NC State’s players are showing great potential, particularly Laki, who has garnered attention and acclaim with consistent performances. As the season progresses, maintaining this momentum will be key for them if they aim for a strong postseason performance.

For more on the match analysis and upcoming fixtures, you can check the official NCAA college tennis page here.

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