DURHAM, N.C. -- Senior Beatrice Capra and freshman Kaitlyn McCarthy, both members of Duke's ninth-ranked women's tennis team, have been selected to participate in this year's NCAA singles competition, the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Subcommittee announced Wednesday. Junior Chalena Scholl was also chosen as an alternate for the 2016 NCAA singles competition. The tandem of Capra and freshman Ellyse Hamlin garnered an at-large bid in the doubles tournament, as well. The announcement comes one day after the Blue Devils received the No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tennis Championship.
Capra and McCarthy, who each received an at-large bid for this year's competition, have remained among the top half of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) nationally ranked singles players this season. Capra ranked as high as 24th this year in the singles poll and currently ranks 37th, while McCarthy currently sits at No. 55 in the latest ITA poll.
Capra, the 13th Blue Devil in Duke history to earn all-conference honors four times in her career, has amassed an overall singles record of 9-6 and a conference mark of 3-2 in her final season in Durham. The Ellicott City, Md., native served as Duke's primary competitor at the No. 1 position during the 2016 dual match campaign, competing in 10 contests on court one.
With 24 wins, McCarthy leads the Blue Devils in singles victories, marking the first time a Duke freshman paced the team in overall singles wins heading into the NCAA Tournament since Capra tied with two other Blue Devils for the most wins during her rookie campaign during the 2011-12 season. Eight of McCarthy's 11 dual match victories came while competing on court two. For her efforts, the Cary, N.C., native earned second team all-conference honors earlier in the year.
Both Capra and McCarthy met the NCAA selection criteria for at-large participants to earn a spot in the 64-competitor field, with requirements includes a minimum of 13 singles matches completed and at least six matches played in the spring.
Scholl, who also met the minimum requirements for inclusion in this year's singles tournament, posted an impressive season, compiling a career-high 21 singles victories, with 11 earned against conference opponents. Scholl provided support for the Blue Devils across four different courts, competing at least twice on courts one, two, three and four this season. Earlier in the season, Scholl was named to the All-ACC Second Team, marking the first such honor of her college career.
Capra and Hamlin have excelled in doubles action this year, pairing with one another to rank 15th in the nation and amass an overall record of 16-9. The duo registered four victories against nationally ranked opposition and recorded seven wins when on court one. The team is joined by 31 additional doubles pairs that met the minimum requirement of at least 10 doubles matches played, with eight completed.
The singles and doubles competition will commence Wednesday, May 25, and run through Monday, May 30. The contests will be held at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla., following the conclusion of the team championship.
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