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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (seminoles.com) – Florida State senior Petra Hule defeated Duke’s Georgia Drummy, 7-5 and 6-4, to clinch No. 59 Florida State’s 4-2 victory over No. 10 Duke at the Scott Speicher Tennis Complex. The victory for Florida State marks the second time in two seasons the Seminoles have defeated a top-10 ranked team at home. The Seminoles defeated No. 8 Virginia, 4-3, at Speicher on April 2, 2021.
“That was a Herculean effort by the Noles today to knock off the No. 10 team in the nation,” said Seminole Head Coach Jen Hyde. “We had to pull our No. 2 singles player after doubles; we had to forfeit No. 6 singles, and really had our backs against the wall. Nevertheless, the girls were unfazed by the deficit as we headed out to singles. That is not easy to do, especially against such a storied and proven program like Duke.”
After winning the doubles point with victories by the teams of Hule and Anna Arkadianou and Lesedi Jacobs and Olympe Lancelot, the shorthanded Seminoles went to work during the single matches.
Because of an injury to senior Vic Allen, the Seminoles quickly switched their lineup, a switch that meant having to forfeit the singles match on court six.
Florida State gained then necessary three wins in singles matches by Hule (over Drummy), by Arkadianou (over Kelly Chen with scores of 6-2, 6-3) and by Kianah Motosono (over Margaryta Bilokin with scores of 6-1, 6-3).
Hule, who is ranked No. 15 in the ITA national rankings, has now won 10 of her 11 singles matches this spring. Her victory in the Seminoles’ victory over Duke came against the No. 20 ranked player in the nation.
“The team win was a great moment for us as the small team that we are,” said Hule. “Being able to put four points together individually to get the team win has been something we have been struggling with. I believe our play shows us what is possible; not just for ourselves as individuals but all the possibilities that can happen when we come together as a team.
“I had to really stay present on my court for those last few points. I think it was college tennis in its purest form, which is always thrilling.”
Hyde certainly agreed with Hule’s view of the final winning points of the match.
“Sport has a funny way of letting you have some incredible moments if you pay attention, and our Noles went and created one for themselves,” said Hyde. “It was an absolute team effort today, with no excuses to be had.”
