Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Face Richmond and Elon in Saturday Doubleheader
1/25/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 25, 2013
By Currie McFayden, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@SIDeacons)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - After competing well in the Wake Forest Winter Classic last weekend, the Wake Forest women's tennis team will compete in a Saturday doubleheader against Richmond and Elon in their first spring dual matches.
The Deacs will take on Richmond at the Wake Forest Indoor Tennis Center at 9:00 a.m. and will then travel to Greensboro's Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center to face Elon at 4:00 p.m. in a neutral-site clash.
History has been kind to the Demon Deacons against both of these squads. Wake is 14-3 all-time against the Spiders but has won the previous 12 meetings, and the Deacs downed the Phoenix in the lone matchup between the two schools in 2010.
Last weekend, Wake Forest earned a sweep against Radford in both singles and doubles play on separate days at the Winter Classic. Senior Catherine Roach played a critical role, winning the first singles and doubles matches of her collegiate career since joining the squad as a walk-on during the spring. Roach defeated Radford's Allison Michael 6-4, 6-3 in singles and combined with Kasey Gardiner to down Michael and Taylor Fay 8-4.
Andrea Retolaza, ranked No. 125 in the latest ITA singles rankings, impressed by going 2-1 in singles and 2-0 in doubles. She dropped Radford's Meg Napolitano 7-5, 6-1 and then grinded out a tough three-set win over Elon's Viviana Stavreva 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. In doubles, the Spanish native teamed with Brigita Bercyte in resounding victories over Elon's Stavreva and Maria Camara Ruiz (8-1) and Radford's Gemma Valls and Hana Babic (8-3).
Richmond dropped their lone decision of the spring season to William & Mary on Jan. 15, falling 6-1 against the Tribe. The Spiders will face Elon on Friday at 3:00 p.m. before heading to Winston-Salem on Saturday morning.
Elon has yet to play a spring dual match but did compete at the Winter Classic last weekend. The Phoenix squad features Briana Berne, who is ranked 119th in the latest ITA singles rankings.
Following Saturday's matches, Wake Forest will return to action next Sunday, Feb. 3, against Georgia State on the road.
