HONOLULU – The No. 20 University of Tennessee women’s tennis team (9-4) was unable to overcome a deep and talented Duke University squad (9-1) Saturday afternoon, falling, 5-2, at the UH Tennis Complex in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Sophomore Caitlin Whoriskey and freshman Rosalía Alda accounted for the Lady Vols’ two points, winning on the first and sixth courts, respectively.

In doubles action, UT claimed a win on the second court, but it was not enough to earn the initial point of the match, as Duke picked up victories at the first and third positions. The Tennessee tandem of senior Ghizela Schutte and Alda was the lone Orange and White pairing to earn a victory, downing the Blue Devil duo of Ellah Nze and Reka Zsilinszka, 8-6, for its team-high 10th dual-match win of the season.

Unfortunately, that win came just moments after Duke had staked claim to the lead by winning the doubles point on center court with the No. 3-rated combo of Melissa Mang and Amanda Granson defeating UT’s seventh-rated team of Whoriskey and sophomore Zsófia Zubor, 8-5. Prior to that triumph, the Blue Devils had struck the first blow of the match at the third position in the lineup, where Jessi Robinson and Tory Zawacki battled their way to an 8-5 win over the UT unit of sophomore Connor Vogel and freshman Jennifer Meredith.

Duke wasted little time widening its advantage in singles play, going up 3-0 with the No. 14-ranked Nze taking out junior Samantha Orlin in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, on the second court and Granson making her way past Vogel three courts down, 6-2, 6-2.

The Big Orange refused to go down without a fight, however, clawing its way back to within one point at 3-2, with victories by Whoriskey and Alda. A native of Boca Raton, Fla., Whoriskey finally got the Lady Vols on the scoreboard with an impressive, 7-6, 6-4, triumph over talented Duke sophomore Tara Iyer on center court. Alda then increased UT’s hopes of a comeback, as she defeated Zawacki, 7-6, 6-2, at the final spot in the lineup.

Those dreams were dashed shortly thereafter though, when Zsilinszka, ranked 16th in the nation, earned a 6-3, 6-3 win over Zubor on court three to clinch the win for Duke. Mang finished out the day’s scoring on the fourth court where she emerged victorious in three sets, 2-6, 6-1, 6-1, over Meredith.

Tennessee will continue its stay in the Aloha State for a few more days, as it is scheduled to take on the University of Hawai’i (0-10) on Tues., March 18. First serve is set for 10 p.m. ET at the UH Tennis Complex in Honolulu, Hawai’i.