May 14, 2003

At Florida in 1993 they called it the Lisa Raymond Tanning Hour. Whenever their star tennis player took the court, Gator fans usually had 60 minutes or less to soak up the sun while Raymond ripped through another opponent on her way to a second straight NCAA singles title.

Though Durham could not have been mistaken for a sunshine state this soggy spring, Kelly McCain has enjoyed a similarly-dominant season for the 2003 Duke tennis team. McCain has been brilliant and blistering in cruising to a 25-1 dual-match record as she takes aim at an NCAA crown.

And like the dynamic Raymond a decade earlier, McCain will bid farewell to college tennis once her sophomore season comes to a close this month. The Tampa native has decided to leave Duke early for the professional ranks and will launch her pro career in June.

When the NCAAs are complete, her father David McCain, who is her coach, will take her to a fitness expert in Greensboro for strength and speed work. Then it will be off to Allentown, Pa., for her pro debut June 7. That's the first of 14 pro tournaments she'll enter before Christmas.

It's much too early to forecast for McCain a Raymond-like pro future - the ex-Gator has won more than $4 million over the last decade and is now ranked No. 22 in the world - but there's not much left for the Duke standout to accomplish in college tennis other than an NCAA title.

She's been ranked either first, second or third in the national singles poll all spring, she won one collegiate Grand Slam in the fall and reached the semis in another, she paced Duke's National Team Indoors title in February and she earned ACC player of the year honors while carrying the Blue Devils back to the ACC championship last month. Her singles record for the year (fall and spring combined) is 33-2, and 65-10 for her career.

Few of her matches have even been challenges. In rolling to her 25-1 spring record, she's won 50 sets and lost just six. Her only defeat came to the third-ranked player in the country. Only four of her matches went to three sets; each time she lost the first before rallying to win the next two. UNC's Kate Pinchbeck, ranked in the top 15 all year, was the only ACC player to win as much as a set off McCain this spring. That was one set out of seven, as McCain beat her NCAA-bound rival three times, including 6-0, 6-3 in the ACC final - a score reflective of her season-long supremacy. McCain won a full third of her 21 ACC sets 6-love and was extended to 6-3 or closer only seven times.

"That helped swing my decision," McCain said of her dominance. "I try to play each game by itself and just try to win every point. I know it sounds stupid and simple, but I just try to win every point I can, get on top, they lose confidence and then it seems to steamroll a little easier."

McCain's father says getting through two full years of college will make it easier for Kelly to eventually return to school and graduate, and he expects she will do so. But he also acknowledged that her tennis clock was ticking. "She just turned 20," he noted. "If she waited two more years, at 22 a major part of your career is behind you. Most players' careers are starting at 17 or 18. You lose a couple years in college. That's a lot."

McCain will become the third Duke women's tennis player to turn pro with eligibility remaining. Karin Miller left after earning ACC player of the year honors her freshman season of 1997. She is no longer on the pro tour. Ansley Cargill left after the 2001 season in which she was named national rookie of the year and is now ranked among the top 100 women's players in the world.

McCain hopes to become Duke's second NCAA champion before she departs. Former Blue Devil Vanessa Webb won the national singles crown as a junior in 1998. The NCAA singles and doubles tourneys will be hosted by Raymond's old school in Gainesville May 19-24, following the completion of the team tournament.

SIDEBAR

Tennis star Kelly McCain is the 12th Duke athlete over the past five years to leave prior to the completion of eligibility to pursue a professional sports career. Here's an update:

1999

William Avery, basketball
The starting point guard for Duke's 1999 Final Four team left following his sophomore season after playing in 74 career games and averaging 11.9 points. Selected 14th in the first round of the NBA Draft by Minnesota. Played as a T-Wolves reserve for three seasons, averaging 2.7 points over 142 games. Joined 76ers for training camp this year but did not make team. Spent the season playing professionally in France.

Elton Brand, basketball
Left following his sophomore season after being named ACC and consensus national player of the year. Played in 60 games for Duke over two years, with averages of 16.2 points and 8.9 rebounds. Chosen first in the NBA Draft by Chicago and named NBA co-rookie of the year. Played in 2002 NBA All-Star Game. Now with Los Angeles Clippers and regarded as one of the top players in the league with career averages of 19.2 points and 10.7 rebounds in 297 games. Considered one of the premier restricted free agents on the market this summer.

Chris Capuano, baseball * GRADUATED *
Drafted in the eighth round by Arizona following his junior season. Posted 251 strikeouts in three years as a Duke pitcher, seventh best in school history. In unique arrangement, Diamondbacks paid for his fourth year at Duke, enabling him to graduate with his class in 2000. He did not play for Duke that year, however, as he attended spring training and was assigned to the minor leagues as soon as the semester ended. Made his major league debut this month with the Diamondbacks, after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery last year.

Corey Maggette, basketball
Averaged 10.6 points off the Duke bench as a freshman for the 1999 Final Four team, then declared for the NBA Draft and was the 13th pick. Played his first year in Orlando and last three for the Los Angeles Clippers, where he has become a star and should command a lucrative contract as a restricted free agent this summer. Has averaged 11.5 points in 273 games over four NBA seasons, with his best of 16.8 ppg this year.

Vaughn Schill, baseball * GRADUATED *
Set Duke's career batting average record with a .380 mark over three years, then was drafted in the fourth round by Seattle following his junior season. Played a short season in the minors that summer, but then unexpectedly retired two weeks into the next season. Returned to finish his Duke degree, took a job with BNP Cooper Neff as a trading assistant, and now works as assistant baseball coach at Eastern University in Pennsylvania.

2000

Beth Bauer, golf
Played two years for the Blue Devils, earning two All-America plaques and two ACC player of the year awards. One of the top players on the 1999 NCAA title team. Turned pro after her sophomore year, was player of year and top money-winner on the Futures Tour in 2001, then played on LPGA Tour last season. Earned over $400,000 and placed 18th on the money list while earning rookie of the year honors. Has made $17,071 in six starts this season.

2001

Ansley Cargill, tennis
Had landmark freshman season for Duke, claiming ACC rookie and player of the year honors, national rookie of the year and All-America. Won 45 singles matches and one collegiate Grand Slam event as a freshman while earning a No. 1 national ranking. Reached quarterfinals of NCAA singles tourney. Turned pro after that one college season. Won her first Grand Slam singles match this past January at Australian Open before losing to Venus Williams in second round. Now ranked 94th in the world. (Her sister Kristin will be a Duke freshman on the tennis team next season.)

2002

Carlos Boozer, basketball
Played in 101 games over three Duke seasons, averaging 14.9 points and 7.2 rebounds while capping off career as the ACC Tournament MVP his junior year. Declared for the draft last year and was taken by Cleveland in the second round (35th pick overall). Had an exceptional rookie year with averages of 10.0 points and 7.5 rebounds while earning a spot in the midseason rookie all-star challenge. His 53.6 field goal percentage ranked third in the NBA.

Larry Broadway, baseball
Started at first base for Duke for three seasons, batting .323 with eight homers and 53 RBI last year. Drafted by Montreal in the third round following his junior season and opted to turn pro. Played a short season in the minors last year and was assigned to Class A Savannah to start this year.

Mike Dunleavy, basketball
Averaged 13.1 points in 103 games over three seasons for Duke and was co-MVP of 2002 team, when he was a consensus second-team All-America selection. Had been expected to serve as co-captain of 2003 Blue Devils before declaring for the NBA Draft, where he was the No. 3 overall pick. Saw action as a reserve for Golden State during rookie season, averaging 5.7 points in 82 games. Started late-season game against Lakers, played 36 minutes and scored 21 points.

Jason Williams, basketball * GRADUATED *
Consensus national player of the year scored 2,079 points in three years at Duke, the sixth best total in school history, then departed for the NBA as the No. 2 pick in the draft by Chicago. Graduated last summer, in just over three years, then began pro career as a part-time starter for the Bulls. Played in the rookie all-star challenge and averaged 9.5 points with 4.7 assists for his first season. Returned to Duke to see his jersey retired in February.

2003

Kelly McCain, tennis
Named ACC rookie of the year after her 32-8 singles record last spring. Chosen ACC player of the year with 33-2 sophomore campaign this season. Won a collegiate Grand Slam event in the fall, helped her team to a No. 1 national ranking, earned the No. 1 singles ranking and paced the Blue Devils to the ACC team championship. Will bid for second straight All-America finish in NCAA tourney before turning pro this summer. First pro event is slated for June 7 in Allentown, Pa. "I've been playing well and I've done well in the satellites recently, so the opportunity is there," she says.