Wake Forest University
South Carolina
Deacons' Rally Falls Short Against No. 17 Gamecocks
2/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
By Wake Forest Communications (@WakeWTennis)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The 27th-ranked Wake Forest women's tennis team nearly rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win, but eventually fell short, 4-3, against No. 17 South Carolina on Sunday afternoon at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.
The Demon Deacons fell to 10-2 on the season with the loss, while South Carolina improved to 8-2. The Deacons are 3-2 versus ranked opponents.
The Gamecocks seized the early advantage by claiming the doubles point. Paige Cline and Hadley Berg teamed up to win, 6-2, at No. 1 and Ingrid Gamarra Martins and Ximena Siles Luna clinched the first point with a late break at No. 3 that led to a 6-4 victory.
Samantha Asch and Emma Davis prevented South Carolina from sweeping the doubles competition by earning a 6-4 triumph at the second position.
In singles, the Gamecocks built on their advantage with wins at Nos. 4 and 5. First, Brigit Folland defeated Samantha Asch in straight sets at No. 5. Moments later, Berg handed Joanna Zalewski her first singles loss of the spring in two sets to make it 3-0. Zalewski is now 11-1 in dual-match singles and is 19-4 overall.
Wake Forest began to battle back and cut into their deficit when Kimmy Guerin dispatched No. 71 Caroline Dailey, 6-3, 6-2, at the top spot for her third victory over a ranked opponent on the season. She is now 11-1 on the spring, including 10-1 at No. 1.
Davis made it a one-point match with a win of her own against a ranked foe at No. 2. She took down No. 108 Cline, 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the second flight to make it 3-2.
The Demon Deacons' comeback bid fell short when 118th-ranked Martins took the final three games of her third set against Anna Ulyashchenko at No. 3 to complete a rally from one set down to win, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. With the match already decided, Fernandez picked up her eighth win in a row when Luna retired at No. 6. The 7-6 (5), 4-2 win by Fernandez made it a 4-3 final.
The Deacs' seven-match home win streak that dated back to last season was snapped with the loss. They were 5-0 in Winston-Salem in 2016 prior to Sunday. The match was their first played outdoors at home.
Wake Forest wraps up a four-match homestand next Saturday with matches against Virginia Tech and Appalachian State. They will then play three-straight ACC matches on the road.
No. 17 South Carolina 4, No. 27 Wake Forest 3
Singles competition
1. No. 82 Kimmy Guerin (WF) def. No. 71 Caroline Dailey (SC) 6-3, 6-2
2. Emma Davis (WF) def. No. 108 Paige Cline (SC) 7-6 (2), 6-4
3. No. 118 Ingrid Gamarra Martins (SC) def. Anna Ulyashchenko (WF) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
4. Hadley Berg (SC) def. Joanna Zalewski (WF) 6-1, 6-4
5. Brigit Folland (SC) def. Samantha Asch (WF) 6-3, 6-0
6. Luisa Fernandez (WF) def. Ximena Siles Luna (SC) 7-6 (5), 4-2, retired
Order of Finish: 5,4,1,2,3,6
Doubles competition
1. Paige Cline/Hadley Berg (SC) def. Anna Ulyashchenko/Kimmy Guerin (WF) 6-2
2. Emma Davis/Samantha Asch (WF) def. Brigit Folland/Caroline Dailey (SC) 6-4
3. Ingrid Martins/Ximena Siles Luna (SC) def. Luisa Fernandez/Andrea Retolaza (WF) 6-4
Order of Finish: 1,3,2
Players Mentioned
