Dukes Cruise Past Bison to Open Dual Season

Saturday, January 26

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

Howard

1/26/2019 4:06:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison women's tennis opened its 46th dual season Saturday afternoon at the East Campus Tennis Courts with a resounding 7-0 victory over Howard in which the Dukes won 15 of 15 sets.

The Dukes improved to 1-0 on the young spring season, with the win being the programs third consecutive to open a spring campaign.

JMU rolled through doubles play, dropping just two games in three matches. The duo of freshman Amanda Nord and senior Emma Petersen got the Dukes off to a fast start with a quick 6-0 dispatching of the Bison's Kindha Nasef and Aria Ragas at No. 3.

JMU clinched the doubles point with a victory at No. 1 from the tandem of senior Abby Amos and freshman Daniela Voloh, as they cruised by Yassmine Khiri and Kendall Addison 6-1.

Junior Jona Roka and freshman Daria Afanasyeva completed the doubles sweep with a 6-1 victory of their own over Nicole Hutchison and Christina Joynes.

In singles play, the Dukes kept the momentum going. Afanasyeva rolled past Khiri 6-1, 6-1 for her first career singles dual match victory to put the Dukes up 2-0 at No. 1.

Roka, laced a forehand net winner past Nasef to complete her 6-1, 6-1 triumph at the No. 3 position, while increasing the JMU lead to 3-0.

Amos clinched match point at No. 2 singles with a 6-0, 6-2 victory of her own. Amos battled back to win the final five games of the second set, to clinch the Dukes first dual victory at 4-0.

JMU closed the afternoon with wins at No.'s 4, 5, and 6 singles play from Voloh, Petersen and Nord to complete the 7-0 sweep of the Bison.

HOME SWEET BUBBLE?
The victory moved the Dukes to 5-0 at the East Campus Tennis Courts, since the bubble's inception for the 2017-2018 season.

PETERSEN MOVES UP THE LADDER
Petersen's 6-1, 6-0 dispatching of Ragas, marked the senior's 72nd career singles victory in dual matches moving her into a tie of third place with Dylan Owens. Petersen is five wins away from tying Jacqueline Palmucci's record of 77.

FRESHMEN VETERANS
The freshman trio of Afansyeva, Voloh and Nord all competed in their first collegiate dual matches, winning in both doubles and singles action, without dropping a set.

PHOTO OF THE MATCH

QUOTING HEAD COACH SHELLEY JAUDON
"This was a great start to the season for our team. I give Howard a lot of credit for playing physical tennis and making us play an extra ball the whole match. We will use this match to help us be better prepared for a tough outing at Virginia Tech tomorrow."

UP NEXT
The Dukes will head south to Blacksburg, Va. to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in a Commonwealth clash at the Burrows Burleson Tennis Center tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.