Category Archives: Duke

Duke’s McCrory wins bronze medal in diving event

After going 12 years without winning a medal in a diving event, the United States now has two medals in as many days after Duke’s Nick McCrory paired with David Boudia to take bronze in the men’s synchronized 10-meter platform event Monday. McCrory joins fellow Blue Devil Abby Johnston as an Olympic medalist after Johnston and Kelci Bryant claimed silver in the women’s synchronized 3-meter competition on Sunday.

McCrory and Boudia started off their list of six dives Monday with an inward in the pike position for a 2.0 degree of difficulty, scoring 54.60 points, including one 9.5. They then earned five 9.0s from the judges on a back dive, bringing their total score to 108.60 and putting them in third place behind teams from Great Britain and China.

In the third round, McCrory and Boudia moved up to a 3.2 degree of difficulty on an inward 3 ½ somersault, netting 82.56 points. After falling to fourth place after that dive, the American duo scored 92.13 points on a forward 4 ½ somersault for a 3.7 degree of difficulty to move back into third.

McCrory and Boudia’s fifth dive, a reverse 3 ½ somersault, was awarded 85.14 points to bring their total to 368.32 and keep them in third with one dive remaining. Great Britain’s team of Tom Daley and Peter Waterfield trailed the Americans by just six points heading into the final round, with a spot on the podium hanging in the balance. However, McCrory and Boudia responded under pressure, nailing a back 2 ½ somersault with 2 ½ twists for a score of 95.04 points to bring their total score to 463.47, enough to secure the bronze medal.

China’s Yuan Cao and Yanquan Zhang won the gold with a score of 486.78 points, while Mexico’s Ivan Garcia Navarro and German Sanchez Sanchez moved up to take the silver with 468.90 points. Daley and Waterfield of Great Britain finished just off the podium in fourth with a final score of 454.65.

McCrory and Boudia’s bronze represents just the second synchronized diving medal ever won by a United States team, with Johnston and Bryant earning the first Sunday on the 3-meter springboard.

McCrory and Johnston’s Olympic success under the guidance of Duke diving and U.S. national team coach Drew Johansen has also propelled Duke into the international spotlight. McCrory and Johnston join former Blue Devil Nancy Hogshead in capturing an Olympic medal as a member of the Duke Swimming & Diving program.

The men’s synchronized 10-meter competition will be re-aired in primetime Monday evening on NBC.

Meanwhile, McCrory’s Olympic journey continues next week, as he vies for a medal in the men’s individual 10-meter platform event. The competition begins with a preliminary round on Friday, Aug. 10, and will be followed by the semifinals and finals on Saturday, Aug. 11 at the London Aquatics Centre.

ACC represented in Olympics by 91 former or current athletes, coaches

A total of 91 former and current Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes and coaches will represent 26 nations in the upcoming 2012 London Olympics. The group, which includes seven current student-athletes and more than 40 All-Americans, represents all 12 ACC member institutions. Twenty-seven of this year’s ACC Olympians previously competed in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and accounted for seven medals.

“The ACC is proud to have so many athletes and coaches representing their countries on a global stage,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “We look forward to watching their events and celebrating their successes.”

Fans can access the ACC’s Olympic coverage at theACC.com/olympics or on Twitter by following @ACCinLondon12 and using the hashtag #ACCOlympics.

A complete school-by-school list of 2012 ACC Olympians is as follows:

BOSTON COLLEGE,
Laura Georges, Women’s Soccer, France

CLEMSON,
Warren Fraser, Men’s Track & Field, Bahamas, 100m
George Kitchens Jr, Men’s Track & Field, USA, Long Jump
Patricia Mamona, Women’s Track & Field, Portugal, Triple Jump
Marlena Wesh, Women’s Track & Field, Haiti, 400m

DUKE,
Drew Johansen, Diving, USA, Coach
Chris Collins, Men’s Basketball, USA, Advance Scout/Court Coach
Kevin Cullen, Men’s Basketball, USA, Video Coordinator
Luol Deng, Men’s Basketball, Great Britain, Athlete
Mike Krzyzewski, Men’s Basketball, USA, Coach
Martynas Pocius, Men’s Basketball, Lithuania, Athlete
Steve Wojciechowski, Men’s Basketball, USA, Advance Scout/Court Coach
Nick McCrory, Men’s Diving, USA, 10m Syncho, 10m
Abby Johnston, Women’s Diving, USA, 3m Synchro
Rebecca Smith, Women’s Soccer, New Zealand, Athlete
Shannon Rowbury, Women’s Track & Field, USA, 1500m
Jillian Schwartz, Women’s Track & Field, Israel, Pole Vault
Eric Boateng, Men’s Basketball, Great Britain, Athlete

FLORIDA STATE
Mateo DeAngulo, Men’s Swimming, Colombia, 400m Freestyle
Gonzalo Barroilhet, Men’s Track & Field, Chile, Decathlon
Jonathan Borlee, Men’s Track & Field, Belgium, 400m
Kevin Borlee, Men’s Track & Field, Belgium, 400m
Kemar Hyman, Men’s Track & Field, Cayman Islands, 100m
Maurice Mitchell, Men’s Track & Field, USA, 200m
Ciaran O’Lionaird, Men’s Track & Field, Ireland, 1500m
Dorian Scott, Men’s Track & Field, Jamaica, Shot Put
Hannah England, Women’s Track & Field, Great Britain, 1500m
Lacy Janson, Women’s Track & Field, USA, Pole Vault
Barbara Parker, Women’s Track & Field, Great Britain, 5000m OR 3000m Steeplechase
Kimberly Williams, Women’s Track & Field, Jamaica, Triple Jump

GEORGIA TECH
Alade Aminu, Men’s Basketball, Nigeria, Athlete
Andrew Chetcuti, Men’s Swimming, Malta, 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle
Angelo Taylor, Men’s Track & Field, USA, 400m hurdles
Chaunte Howard Lowe, Women’s Track & Field, USA, High Jump

MARYLAND
Missy Meharg, Field Hockey, USA, NBC Commentary
Katie O’Donnell, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
Keli Smith-Puzo, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
Ekene Ibekwe, Men’s Basketball, Nigeria, Athlete
Andrew Valmon, Men’s Track & Field, USA, Coach
Nataly Arias, Women’s Soccer, Colombia, Athlete

MIAMI
Randy Ableman, Diving, USA, Assistant Coach
Reuben Ross, Men’s Diving, Canada, 3m Synchro
Zach Railey, Sailing, USA, Finn Class
Brittany Viola, Women’s Diving, USA, 10m
Murielle Ahoure, Women’s Track & Field, Ivory Coast,
T’Erea Brown, Women’s Track & Field, USA, 400m hurdles
Amy Deem, Women’s Track & Field, USA, Coach
Lauryn Williams, Women’s Track & Field, USA, Member of relay pool
Savannah Leaf, Women’s Volleyball, Great Britain, Athlete
Ciara Michel, Women’s Volleyball, Great Britain, Athlete

NORTH CAROLINA
Illse Davids, Field Hockey, South Africa, Athlete
Rachel Dawson, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
Katelyn Falgowski, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
Jesse Gey, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
Jaclyn Kintzer, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
Amy Swensen, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
Vikas Gowda, Men’s Track & Field, India, Discus
Robyn Gayle, Women’s Soccer, Canada, Athlete
Tobin Heath, Women’s Soccer, USA, Athlete
Meghan Klingenberg, Women’s Soccer, USA, Athlete, *Alternate
Heather O’Reilly, Women’s Soccer, USA, Athlete
Shalane Flanagan, Women’s Track & Field, USA, Marathon
Alice Schmidt, Women’s Track & Field, USA, 800m
Katie Bowen, Women’s Soccer, New Zealand, Athlete, *Alternate

NC STATE
Bob Alejo, Beach Volleyball, USA, Coach
Cullen Jones, Men’s Swimming, USA, 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 4×100 Freestyle Relay
Jamill Kelly, Wrestling, USA, Coach
Jesse Williams, Men’s Track & Field, USA, High Jump

VIRGINIA
Will Coleman, Equestrian, USA, Athlete
Paige Selenski, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
Michelle Vittese, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
David Karasek, Men’s Swimming, Switzerland, 200m IM
Matt McLean, Men’s Swimming, USA, 800m Freestyle Relay
Scot Robison, Men’s Swimming, USA, 400m Freestyle Relay, *Alternate
Somdev Devvarman, Men’s Tennis, India, Singles
Inge Janssen, Women’s Rowing, Netherlands, Athlete
Lori Lindsey, Women’s Soccer, USA, Athlete, *Alternate
Becky Sauerbrunn, Women’s Soccer, USA, Athlete
Katya Bachrouche, Women’s Swimming, Lebanon, 800m Freestyle
Lauren Perdue, Women’s Swimming, USA, 800m Freestyle Relay
Yannick Kaser, Men’s Swimming, Switzerland, 200m Breaststroke

VIRGINIA TECH
Marcel Lomnicky, Men’s Track & Field, Slovakia, Hammer throw
Katarina Filova, Women’s Swimming, Slovakia, 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle

WAKE FOREST
Lauren Crandall, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
Michelle Kasold, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
Claire Laubach, Field Hockey, USA, Athlete
Al-Farouq Aminu, Men’s Basketball, Nigeria, Athlete
Chris Paul, Men’s Basketball, USA, Athlete
Darius Songaila, Men’s Basketball, Lithuania, Athlete
Brent LaRue, Men’s Track & Field, Slovenia, 400m hurdles
Hunter Kemper, Triathlon, USA, Athlete

Area football coaches to hold panel discussion at Pigskin Preview July 19

You can get the inside scoop on the 2012 college football season when you meet local Division I head football coaches at the 10th annual Bill Dooley Triangle/East Chapter Pigskin Preview July 19. Get to know Duke coach David Cutcliffe, ECU coach Ruffin McNeill, NC Central coach Henry Frazier III, NC State coach Tom O’Brien, and UNC coach Larry Fedora as they participate in a panel discussion and a Q&A session and enjoy a fantastic lunch.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to bid on items from each university. Proceeds benefit the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame – Triangle/East Chapter Scholarship Fund for Triangle-area high school athletes.

Registration and networking begins at 11:30 a.m. with the luncheon and program following from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $60.

The event, sponsored by the Greater Raleigh Sports Council, will be held at the Embassy Suites on Harrison Oaks Boulevard in Cary. For more information, call 919-664-7070 or email aedmonds@raleighchamber.org.

Plumlee’s stock really did rise as he goes to Hansbrough’s Pacers in the 1st round

It was rumored that Duke 7-footer Mike Plumlee had impressed at the NBA combines and sure enough he was drafted in the first round by the Indiana Pacers. Almost no one saw that coming a week ago. He’ll play alongside former UNC star Tyler Hansbrough.

Already, probably because he is white, Plumlee is being called a Hansbrough type that can’t score. One know-nothing Internet sports writer named Riley Schmitt (who is still in college by the way) even went so far as to write, “Apparently the Indiana Pacers thought Tyler Hansbrough needed someone to hang out with. Taking him at 26 is just comical. Bad move by this team.” I wonder if someone would write that about two black players on the same team in the NHL for instance.

Maybe Larry Bird does have a soft spot for hard-working white players like himself, don’t know, but the Pacers are not going to select someone in the first round that they don’t think can play. He might not become a star but there are few of those in the NBA. While he probably isn’t as talented as either of his younger brothers, he fits a need for the Pacers.

“We think he can play for us right now,” Pacers GM Bird said. “We don’t have a center on the roster…He’s a great fit for what we want to do.”

Coach Mike Krzyzewski said he believes in Plumlee. “Basically, he’ll be a complementary player, like most of the guys in the NBA,” Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski said before the draft. “At 6-11, 255-260, he’s an incredible athlete. I think he’s still growing as a player and he’ll only be asked to do things he does well.

“He can run. He can play defense. He can rebound. He doesn’t have to be a great shooter. He’s an adequate shooter, but he can physically play right away. And he can do the things you would ask a complementary player to do.”

Fellow Duke teammate Austin Rivers was selected No. 10 by New Orleans. “I love New Orleans more than anything in my life right now,” Rivers said after being selected on Thursday. “Coach Monty Williams is a great coach. Anthony’s coming. They have a great city. I’m looking forward to going there and working hard and helping out in the community and doing everything I can to help this organization win.”

Duke golfer Lindy Duncan tops in the ACC and the country

Not only is Duke’s Lindy Duncan the top golfer in the nation in 2011-12, the rising senior was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Women’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Monday as Commissioner John Swofford released the All-ACC Academic team.

Duncan along with Laetitia Beck, Alejandra Cangrejo, Courtney Ellenbogen and Stacey Kim helped Duke lead all league schools with five selections to the All-ACC Academic team.

A psychology major, Duncan is a three-time All-ACC Academic and All-ACC team honoree. The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., golfer was the consensus National Player of the Year this past season as she received PING NGCA National Player of the Year and Golfweek National Player of the Year honors.

On the year, Duncan won four tournaments, including the ACC individual championship and had 10 top 10 finishes, posted 10 rounds in the 60s, 21 rounds of even or under par and a 71.07 stroke average. Her 71.07 stroke average is the second-best in school history and missed matching the Duke single-season school-record by .07. Amanda Blumenherst holds the Blue Devil mark of 71.00 that she set in 2007-08 and 2006-07.

Duncan was named Golfweek First Team All-America for the third straight year. Duncan finished No. 1 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index, which she led for most of the 2011-12 campaign. Duncan also won the GolfStat Cup and was a NGCA First Team All-America this season.

Duke led with five individuals while Florida State, NC State and Wake Forest each placed three honorees on the team. Boston College, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia each placed two on the team.

Both Duncan and Kim received All-ACC Academic Team accolades for the third time, while Beck, Cangrejo and Ellenbogen earned honors for the second time.

The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award was established in September 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the award must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their career as well as a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters.

To be eligible for consideration for the All-ACC Academic team, a student-athlete, regardless of classification, must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during her academic career.

– News release

Duke to face Kentucky in Georgia Dome; Devils release part of basketball schedule

The Duke men’s basketball team released a portion of its 2012-13 schedule on Tuesday, showcasing a slate that could include up to 13 games against 2012 NCAA Tournament teams and eight games against teams that received a top-16 NCAA seed.

Highlighting the non-conference schedule will be a neutral site showdown against reigning NCAA Champion Kentucky at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., as part of the State Farm Champions Classic. The matchup features two of the winningest programs in college basketball history in a series that has not been played since the 2001-02 season.

Including Kentucky, Duke could potentially face three of the four teams that advanced to last year’s Final Four. Ohio State will visit Cameron Indoor Stadium on Nov. 28, while a possible matchup against Louisville looms on Nov. 22-24 at the eight-team Battle 4 Atlantis in Naussau, Bahamas. Duke could also face 2012 No. 2 seed Missouri, Memphis, VCU, Stanford, Northern Iowa or Minnesota at the Battle 4 Atlantis.

The Blue Devils will also face NCAA Tournament participants Temple on Dec. 8 in East Rutherford, N.J., and Davidson on Jan. 2 in Charlotte, in a pair of neutral-site contests.

Duke will release its conference opponents on Thursday with the full scheduled expected to be released by the ACC in late August.

– News release

Duke athletics conducting Father’s Day auction of autographed photos

Looking for the perfect gift for Dad for Father’s Day? Check out GoDuke.com’s 2012 Father’s Day Auction.

The 2012 Father’s Day Auction features 15 autographed photos signed by Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and former Blue Devil greats, including Christian Laettner, Jason Williams, Kyrie Irving, Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, Chris Duhon, Gerald Henderson, Mike Gminski, Jon Scheyer, Brian Zoubek, Gene Banks, Trajan Langdon and Kenny Dennard.

Items will end daily beginning on Monday, June 11 and the auction will close on Thursday, June 14.

Find the perfect gift for your favorite Blue Devil fan in the 2012 Father’s Day Auction.

2012 Father’s Day Auction

Monday, June 11
Autographed Kenny Dennard Photo – 3:00 PM
Autographed Trajan Langdon Photo – 3:30 PM
Autographed Nolan Smith Roster Card – 4:00 PM
Autographed Nolan Smith Photo – 4:30 PM

Tuesday, June 12
Autographed Mike Gminski Photo – 3:00 PM
Autographed Gene Banks Photo – 3:30 PM
Autographed Brian Zoubek Photo – 4:00 PM
Autographed Kyle Singler Photo – 4:30 PM

Wednesday, June 13
Autographed Jon Scheyer Roster Card – 3:00 PM
Autographed Jason Williams Sports Illustrated – 3:30 PM
Autographed Chris Duhon Photo – 4:00 PM
Autographed Kyrie Irving Photo – 4:30 PM

Thursday, June 14
Autographed Gerald Henderson Photo – 3:00 PM
Autographed Christian Laettner Photo – 3:30 PM
Autographed Coach K 2010 National Champions Photo – 4:00 PM

– News release

ACC baseball tourney opens in Greensboro

Pairings and game times have been set for the 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship, which will be held from Wednesday, May 23 through Sunday, May 27, at NewBridge Bank Park.

As the No. 1 overall seed, Atlantic Division champion Florida State (43-12, 24-6) will be placed atop Pool A and will be joined by No. 4 Virginia (36-16-1, 18-12), No. 5 Clemson (32-24, 16-14) and No. 8 Georgia Tech (33-24, 12-18). Coastal Division champion North Carolina (42-13, 22-8) is the No. 2 seed and will be joined in Pool B by No. 3 NC State (38-15, 19-11), No. 6 Miami (34-19, 16-14) and No. 7 Wake Forest (32-22, 13-17).

All eight teams in this year’s ACC Championship field are ranked among the top 40 of the most recent NCAA RPI report. Florida State held a No. 1 national ranking in two major national polls last week, while North Carolina was ranked as high as No. 7, NC State as high as No. 13, Virginia as high as No. 19 and Miami as high as No. 21.

Under the pool-play format, each team will play one game against each of the other three opponents in its division Wednesday-Saturday (May 23-26). The two teams with the best records within their respective division brackets will advance to the title game on Sunday, May 27, with the winner earning the ACC’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Play begins on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with Florida State facing Georgia Tech. NC State meets Miami at 3 p.m., followed by North Carolina vs. Wake Forest at 7 p.m. Virginia and Clemson swing into action with the 11 a.m. game on Thursday. North Carolina faces Miami at 3 p.m., followed by NC State vs. Wake Forest at 7 p.m. On Friday, Virginia faces Georgia Tech in the 11 a.m. opener. Florida State plays Clemson at 3 p.m., followed by Miami vs. Wake Forest at 7 p.m.

Saturday will see Clemson face Georgia Tech at 11 a.m. Florida State meets Virginia at 3 p.m., and North Carolina meets NC State at 7 p.m. Sunday’s Championship game is set for 12 noon.

Fans can still purchase tickets to next week’s competition. Complete books to all 13 games are available, as well as individual game tickets. Online ticket information can be found at http://bit.ly/2012ACCBaseTix or by calling 336-268-2255.

All 13 games of this year’s ACC Baseball Championship will be televised for the sixth straight year. RSN, a regional network that covers the entire conference footprint, will carry 12 total games on Wednesday through Saturday. Please check http://bit.ly/2012ACCBase for local affiliates and stations. Sunday’s noon championship game will televised nationally by ESPN2.

All games will live-streamed via the Internet by ESPN3. In addition, Sirius 93 will broadcast all 13 games live via satellite radio, and every game with exception of the Wednesday and Friday 7 p.m. games will also be broadcast live via satellite radio on XM 190. Live stats will be available at the ACC Baseball Championship site.

Despite losing stars, ACC basketball still has dangerous teams

Probably the first ACC basketball prediction article has appeared on CBS Sports online and the college basketball writer has North Carolina State as the team to beat followed by the depleted North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils. Rounding out the top five are Miami and Florida State.

Just like in the old days, “Next season, Tobacco Road will control the top of the ACC, with the middle and bottom of the ACC needing to work their way up,” CBS Sports’ Jeff Borzello said.

However, Borzello said that the ACC as a whole is headed for a rebuilding season. “The top of the league has multiple questions, and it remains to be seen if any are legitimate Final Four threats at this poin,” he said. “Moreover, the entire All-ACC first team is gone, as are two more players from the second team. There are several candidates for breakout seasons, though, and eight top-100 recruits are entering the fold. Youth will be a theme of the ACC this season.”

On the Wolfpack, he wrote, “Pack have two all-league players, four returning starters and a national top-five recruiting class. On paper, might be best in the league.”

On the Tar Heels, he wrote, “Heels are talented, but have questions. Is Marcus Paige ready at PG? Are P.J. Hairston, James McAdoo and Reggie Bullock ready to break out? ”

And on the Blue Devils, he wrote, “Rasheed Sulaimon could be a top-10 frosh, but the Blue Devils have questions on the perimeter. Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly have to step up.”

The predicted all-conference team is Lorenzo Brown (North Carolina State), Michael Snaer (Florida State), C.J. Leslie (North Carolina State), James Michael McAdoo (North Carolina) and Mason Plumlee (Duke).

No. 8 Duke blanks Baylor to reach NCAA tennis quarterfinals

The eighth-seeded Duke men’s tennis team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2001 with a 4-0 Round of 16 victory over No. 25 Baylor Friday afternoon at the McWhorter Courts at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The Blue Devils improved to 25-5 on the year for the program’s highest number of wins in a season since the 1999-2000 campaign.

“We were just really prepared,” said head coach Ramsey Smith. “Baylor is a tough out and they were playing their best tennis of the year going into this tournament, so we were ready for a battle. I’m just really proud of our guys.”

Duke (25-5) got off to a quick start in doubles, posting wins on courts two and three to claim the point for the 22nd time this season. In the No. 2 contest, senior David Holland and sophomore Fred Saba went up a break at 2-all against 45th-ranked Kike Grangeiro and Roberto Maytin of Baylor (19-12). The Blue Devil duo also broke the Bears at 6-4 and held serve to lead Duke off the courts with an 8-4 victory. Holland and Saba earned their fourth consecutive win in postseason doubles play while moving to 8-3 on the season.

Senior Torsten Wietoska and freshman Raphael Hemmeler also grabbed an early break in their No. 3 match against the Bears’ Julian Bley and Marko Krickovic, jumping out to a 3-1 lead on their way to an 8-2 win. Wietoska and Hemmeler improved to 15-5 overall and 13-3 this spring at the No. 3 position.

The match on court one went unfinished with the Bears’ Diego Galeano and Mate Zsiga leading the 16th-ranked tandem of junior Henrique Cunha and sophomore Chris Mengel, 7-5.

“David Holland has been our leader in terms of energy with doubles,” Smith said. “He just gets the guys going, and it was a phenomenal start in doubles. With the format in the tournament here, the doubles point is so key and against our singles, it makes it really tough to have to win four matches.”

While singles play started out tight across the board, Duke went on to take first sets on five of the six courts. Freshman Jason Tahir extended the Blue Devils’ advantage in the match to 2-0, cruising to a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Bley in the No. 6 spot. Tahir recorded the second NCAA Championship win of his collegiate career and pushed his overall record to 26-8.

In a battle of top-20 players on court one, fifth-ranked Cunha and No. 17 Zsiga traded breaks throughout the first set with Cunha coming out on top, 6-4. The Duke junior then took the second set by a 6-1 margin to garner his 23rd win over a ranked opponent. Cunha also moved to 38-8 this season in singles action with a 24-4 ledger at the top spot in the lineup.

Hemmeler battled to a 6-4, 5-4 advantage against Galeano of Baylor in the No. 5 matchup, but it was 38th-ranked Mengel who would close out the 4-0 victory for the Blue Devils. Mengel defeated No. 86 Maytin, 7-5, 6-4, to clinch his sixth match of the season and improve to 31-12 overall on the year.

“That was awesome. I haven’t really had a great ending to the year, so that was important for me individually,” Mengel said. “Baylor is a good team – they’re definitely under-ranked – so we needed the doubles point to make things a little easier on us.”

The win sets up a quarterfinal meeting with top-seeded and three-time reigning champion USC Sunday, May 20 at 12 p.m. on the Henry Feild Courts at the University of Georgia’s Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The Blue Devils will make an appearance in the tournament’s quarterfinals for the seventh time in program history and the first time since 2001.

“USC is the team to beat,” Smith said. “They certainly have some pressure on them – I think this is the first year they’ve been seeded No. 1. We have beat them the last two years. They got us pretty handily at National Indoors but we know we can beat them … We’re in a really good place right now so we’re going to give them everything we’ve got and we’re looking forward to it.”

– News release