JMU Battles Tough in Loss at #7 Duke

DURHAM, N.C. – James Madison's doubles tandem of Brooklyn Hoffmann and Sophie Williams registered a marquee win on court one and battled tough in most of singles in a 4-0 setback at #7 Duke on Sunday afternoon at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.

Hoffmann and Williams notched a 6-3 victory on court one for their highest-profile win of the season, as they defeated Claire An and Liv Hovde. Paired with other Duke teammates, An ranks #32 nationally in doubles while Hovde has a pair of rankings at #14 and #22.

The Blue Devils (5-0) earned a 6-0 win on court two and slide past the Dukes (1-4) on court three by a 7-5 margin to secure the doubles point and early 1-0 lead.

In singles play, JMU was competitive in most matches, taking first sets on courts two and three and battling withing 6-4 on two others.

Mia Saveljic was within a game of taking court two, as she led Hovde, who ranks 98th in the ITA singles rankings, at 6-3, 5-3 unfinished. Hoffmann also led #87 Eleana Yu in another unfinished bout, at 7-6 (5), 2-0.

Duke took a 2-0 lead on court six, as An avenged her doubles defeat in a 6-2, 6-0 victory against Corinna Rietmann. The host's lead stretched to 3-0 on court one, as #22 Irina Balus downed Daria Munteanu, at 6-4, 6-1.

The Blue Devils clinched the match on court four, where #93 Shavit Kimchi beat Williams, 6-2, 6-2.

JMU has next week off before opening its home slate on Friday, Feb. 13 when it hosts Howard in a 10 a.m. match at the East Campus Tennis Courts.

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