Wake Forest University
Richmond
Demon Deacons Cruise Past Richmond 6-1
3/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 4, 2011
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's tennis team snapped a four-match skid in dominating fashion with a 6-1 win over Richmond Friday at Leighton Stadium.
The Demon Deacons improve to 3-5 while the Spiders fall to 4-4. Wake has now defeated Richmond in nine straight matches, its second-longest winning streak against an opponent.
The Deacs fought their way through a tough doubles point, eventually sweeping the matches, and carried the momentum into singles as Kathryn Talbert, Emilee Malvehy and Kayla Duncan picked up three quick wins to secure the match for Wake.
"I was very impressed with the way that the girls battled today," said head coach Jeff Wyshner. "Richmond really pushed us in doubles, so it was big to win all three of those matches and then to start singles the way that we did."
After suffering through a winless February, it was important for the No. 73 Demon Deacons to get a win before heading to Texas next week where they will face No. 75 TCU, No. 32 Texas A&M and No. 48 Rice.
"Winning like we did today gives us some positive momentum heading into our trip," said Wyshner. "We got our first win on Spring Break today, now we need to get three more."
Wake Forest switched up the bottom two spots in its doubles lineup and won the doubles point for the first time in five tries by sweeping all three matches. At No. 2, Malvehy and Martina Pavelec blew past Kelly Tidwell and Helen Cunningham 8-2.
The Deacs clinched the point at No. 1, where No. 17 Duncan and Talbert earned a hard-fought 8-5 win over Sydney Grant and Joanna Matuszcyk. At No. 3, Ryann Cutillo and Brigita Bercyte teamed up for the first time, rallying from a 7-3 deficit to take down Elizabeth Sims and Alexandra Smyth 8-7 (0).
Wake got three quick singles victories to clinch the match. At No. 2, Kathryn Talbert took down Matuszcyk 6-0, 6-2. The win was Talbert's 50th as a Demon Deacon, with 23 victories coming in singles and 27 in doubles for an overall record of 50-32 (.610)
"For Kathryn to reach 50 wins this early in her sophomore season is a good indication of how talented a player she is," said Wyshner "This is only the beginning of what she is going to accomplish at Wake Forest."
Emilee Malvehy earned the third point with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Kelly Tidwell at No. 3, and Kayla Duncan clinched the match at No. 4, beating Alexandra Smyth 6-1, 6-0.
Ryann Cutillo got the fifth point for the Demon Deacons at No. 5, defeating Elizabeth Sims 6-3, 6-1. Martina Pavelec rebounded from a tough first set to move past Helen Cunningham 6-4, 6-1 at the top position.
The Spiders got their only point of the day at No. 6, as Wake's Anna Mydlowska retired after falling behind 4-1 in the first set.
The Demon Deacons leave tomorrow for their Spring Break trip where they will play TCU on March 7, Texas A&M on March 9 and Rice on March 11.
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#73 Wake Forest 6, Richmond 1
Singles
1. #45 Martina Pavelec (WF) def. Helen Cunningham (UR) 6-4, 6-1
2. Kathryn Talbert (WF) def. Joanna Matuszcyk (UR) 6-0, 6-2
3. #118 Emilee Malvehy (WF) def. Kelly Tidwell (UR) 6-1, 6-0
4. Kayla Duncan (WF) def. Alexandra Smyth (UR) 6-1, 6-0
5. Ryann Cutillo (WF) def. Elizabeth Sims (UR) 6-3, 6-1
6. Isabel Arana (UR) def. Anna Mydlowska (WF) 4-1, retired
Doubles
1. #17 Kayla Duncan/Kathryn Talbert (WF) def. Sydney Grant/Joanna Matuszcyk (UR) 8-5
2. Martina Pavelec/Emilee Malvehy (WF) def. Kelly Tidwell/Helen Cunningham (UR) 8-2
3. Ryann Cutillo/Brigita Bercyte (WF) def. Elizabeth Sims/Alexandra Smyth (UR) 8-7 (7-0)
Match Notes:
Richmond 4-4
Wake Forest 3-5; National ranking #73
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1*,3); Singles (2,3,4*,5,1,6)
A-37
Players Mentioned
