Wake Forest Athletics
No. 50 Wake Forest Welcomes ACC Newcomer Pittsburgh
2/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 22, 2014
Match Notes (vs. Pittsburgh) (PDF)
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By Currie McFayden, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWTennis)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest will welcome ACC newcomer Pittsburgh to the Leighton Courts at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. for the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Sunday will also double as Campus Kids' Day for the Demon Deacons. Free pizza and activities for kids will be provided, including a bouncehouse and free wristbands promoting autism awareness. The squad will also sign autographs approximately 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the match.
#50 Wake Forest Wraps Up Opening ACC Weekend vs. Pittsburgh
• Despite a 4-3 loss to No. 30 Florida State on Friday evening, Wake Forest has gotten off to an incredibly strong start to the 2014 spring season. The Demon Deacons sit at 7-1 overall and will be seeking their first conference win of the season against the Panthers.
• The Demon Deacons have already dropped three ranked squads this season by defeating Missouri, VCU and William & Mary in consecutive matches. They have dropped just three points against unranked opponents.
• Because Pittsburgh is in its first season as an ACC member, Sunday's match will mark the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Top Storylines
• With seven singles victories in dual matches already this season, Xue Zhang needs just one more win to match the total from her freshman season in 2013. Zhang is 7-1 playing at the No. 6 spot for the Demon Deacons.
• Wake Forest has won the doubles point in all eight of its dual matches thus far on the season and has won 20 of a possible 22 doubles matches.
• Samantha Asch earned a grueling three-set victory against FSU's Daniela Schippers on Friday. The freshman battled back from a 1-6 deficit to pick up the statement victory with a final score of 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.
• Zhang and Kasey Gardiner continued their dominance at No. 1 doubles against Florida State, picking up an 8-7 (6) victory in what proved to be the decisive match for the doubles point on Friday.
• Pittsburgh will come to Winston-Salem as the second half of a weekend trip to the south. The Panthers will square off against No. 47 Virginia Tech on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
• The Panthers have a combined 15-2 record in singles matches as a team, buoyed by a perfect 3-0 mark at No. 2 by Audrey Ann Blakely.
Next Up
• Wake Forest will go on the road for its next three matches, beginning at No. 6 North Carolina (9-2, 1-0 ACC) next Friday at 3:30 p.m.
• The Tar Heels lead the all-time series between the two sides by a 34-16 margin. The Demon Deacons will be seeking their first victory in the series since the 2007 season.
