Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Geared Up For Athens
5/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
May 15, 2007
The Deacons Are Dancing
For the first time in program history, the Wake Forest men's tennis team has reached the Sweet 16. The Demon Deacons qualified for Athens by virtue of an epic 4-3 victory against Clemson on May 12th. Senior Andrew Hamar clinched the decisive point by rallying from a 4-2 third-set deficit. Hamar prevailed 11-9 in a third-set tiebreaker.
Deacs, `Hoos Renew Old Rivalry
Although the Deacons have advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time, they will be facing a familiar opponent. For the third time in 53 days, Wake Forest will play Virginia. In the regular season, the Deacons lost at home, 4-2. In the ACC Tournament, top-seeded Virginia beat fourth-seeded Wake 4-0. (complete 2007 results vs. Virginia on page four)
How'd They Get Here?
Wake Forest received an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships for a seventh straight season and the eighth time in 10 years under head coach Jeff Zinn. The Deacons defeated Charlotte, 4-0, in the first round and eeked past Clemson, 4-3. (detailed results, page three)
Glory Days
Wake Forest has shattered the previous school record of 19 dual matches victories in a season. In addition, the Deacons have won 67 team matches in the last four years, the most team wins during any four-year period in school history.
Wake Forest Is NCAA-Ready
The Deacons are battle-tested. Including last weekend's action, 19 of Wake Forest's 29 matches so far this year came against teams that made the NCAA Tournament field. Wake Forest has gone 13-6 in those matches. Ten ACC teams made this year's NCAA Tournament field and three are in the final 16.
Paul Breaks School Singles Wins Record
Senior All-American Todd Paul became Wake Forest's all-time leader in singles wins on April 20 when he defeated Clemson's Clement Reix, 6-4, 6-3. The win was the 107th of Paul's career. He passed David Bere for the most singles wins ever by a Demon Deacon.
Paul, Adamski Ready To Compete Individually
Two Demon Deacons will participate in the NCAA Individual Championships. Todd Paul and Mariusz Adamski were selected to 32-team doubles field and Paul was chosen to compete in the 64-player singles field. For Paul, it is his second straight appearance in the NCAA singles event. Adamski and Paul (18-8), currently ranked ninth, are the first Deacon doubles team to be selected to the championships since Myles Clouston and Raul Munoz in 1999. Paul (32-8), currently ranked 10th nationally, will be a No. 9-16 seed, meaning he will not play a top 16 player until at least the round of 16. The native of Stamford, Conn., reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season. On May 14, Paul was named the Mideast Region Senior Player of the Year by the ITA.
Simpson Collects Coaching Honor
Andrew Simpson was named the Mideast Region Assistant Coach of the Year by the ITA on Monday, May 14. The former Deacon star has been associated with the Wake program for seven years.
