Dukes Roll on Senior Day, Defeat Elon 6-1

Saturday, April 14

Harrisonburg, Va.

10 a.m.

James Madison University

Elon

4/14/2018 2:24:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison women's tennis closed out its 45th dual season with a 6-1 dispatching of Elon in Colonial Athletic Association women's tennis action Saturday morning at the Hillside Courts.

In doubles, junior Emma Petersen and freshman Anna Makarova cruised by Phoenix duo Suzanne Zenoni and Kirsten Ward 6-1 at No. 2. The win improves Petersen and Makarova to 12-3 on the dual season and was their eighth victory in their last nine matches as a pair.

At the No. 1 position freshman Liz Norman and junior Abby Amos battled past Maria Paraja and Alex Koniaev 6-3 to secure the doubles point and give JMU a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.

Sophomore Jona Roka and senior Dylan Owens used a 7-6(6) win in come-from-behind fashion to complete the sweep of doubles play.

In singles, Elon knotted the score at one a piece following a 6-1, 6-0 triumph from Elon's Montana Moore over sophomore Diane Flament at No. 6.

From there the Dukes took control with wins from Petersen at the No. 4 position 6-3, 6-2 and Makarova at No. 2 7-5, 6-2 to give JMU a 3-1 lead. Makarova's victory was her 12th consecutive and moved her to 15-3 on the dual season.

At No. 5 singles senior Kimmy Herrock cruised by Kristen Ward in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 to clinch match point at 4-1.

With the match clinched, Norman raced past Erica Braschi 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1 to improve her stellar dual season record to 17-1.

Roka closed out the afternoon with a three set win at No. 3 singles (6-3, 1-6, 6-2) over Maria Paraja.

SENIOR SEND OFF
Following this morning's match, seniors Herrock and Owens were honored as the team's lone seniors. The duo will leave JMU as the winningest senior class in program history with a current record of 68-26 over their four years in Harrisonburg.

PHOTO'S OF THE DAY

QUOTING HEAD COACH JAMES BRYCE
"I thought today was a great team performance. It's been a tough week to work on things, because we haven't had time to practice, but the girls have done a really good job at working on the things they need to, to improve. We have a lot of confidence heading into CAA's next weekend after today and I think we're peaking at the right time. We know we're a good team, now it comes down to execution."

UP NEXT
The Dukes will travel to Elon, N.C. for the 2018 CAA Women's Tennis Championships beginning Thursday, April 19 at the Burlington and Jimmy Powell Tennis Center's. The Dukes will look to bring home the first conference championship in program history.