Saturday, January 29
Raleigh, N.C.
2:00 PM

Wake Forest University

vs

Northwestern

Wake Forest Women's Tennis
Photo by: Eric Roth

Women’s Tennis Gears Up for ITA Kickoff

1/28/2022 11:39:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Spending the weekend in Raleigh!

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Wake Forest women's tennis team travels to the Triangle this weekend for a major, early-season opportunity at the annual Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Kickoff Weekend.

The tournament is entering its 13th year, totaling 15 host sites on the women's side that were determined by the 2021 year-end rankings. All teams this weekend will be battling for a spot in the 2022 ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

The Demon Deacons will compete at NC State University's campus with a first test against Northwestern University on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. ET.

No. 8 NC State and Penn State University are in the field of teams, battling each other on day one. For Sunday, the consolation bracket takes place at 11 a.m., and the match championship will be held at 2 p.m.

Wake Forest enters the event as the No. 3 seed.

Links for live stats and viewing will become available for Sunday following the conclusion of day one action.


Match Times

Saturday at 11 a.m. ET -  No. 8 NC State vs. Penn State

Saturday at 2 p.m. ET - Northwestern vs. Wake Forest

Sunday at 11 a.m. ET - Saturday's losers matchup

Sunday at 2 p.m. ET - Saturday's winners matchup


Last Time Out

Last Sunday (Jan. 23) at home, Wake Forest split two afternoon matches during a doubleheader, falling 4-3 to No. 22 Tennessee before dominating Davidson in a 7-0 decision.

Against Tennessee, No. 15 Samantha Martinelli/Casie Wooten (6-4) and Peyton Pesavento/Saby Nihalani (6-4) led the Deacs in securing the doubles point by clinching their matches in back-to-back results. The feat also marked the fourth doubles victory in as many appearances for Pesavento and Nihalani this season. In singles, Carolyn Campana (6-1, 2-6, 6-3) impressively picked up a ranked win over No. 41 Tenika McGiffin, while Anna Brylin claimed a victory before the Demon Deacons narrowly suffered a defeat.

Facing Davidson, Wake Forest secured a 7-0 victory for its first win of the season. Mia Ahmad, Anna Brylin, Samantha Martinelli, Saby Nihalani, Peyton Pesavento, and Casie Wooten gathered solo wins.


New Year, Familiar Foe

Coincidentally, Wake Forest and Northwestern met in the championship round of the 2021 ITA Kick-Off, held in Raleigh. The Wildcats took the victory last year, 4-0. Anna Brylin and Brooke Killingsworth pushed their matches to three sets.


Scouting the Opposition

Northwestern went 19-6 a season ago, including a 17-4 mark in conference play. This year, in fall play, a doubles tandem of Hannah McColgan and Sydney Pratt made their way to the ITA National Fall Championships after reaching the ITA Midwest Super Regionals doubles final. In its season opener (Jan. 23), the team fell to Vanderbilt, 5-2. Senior Clarissa Hand is ranked No. 94 in ITA singles. Briana Crowley and Christina Hand place 58th in doubles.

Per the latest ITA national rankings, the NC State Wolfpack stands eighth in the country after starting strong at 3-0, having downed #23 Princeton and #10 Ohio State. Three ranked players are scattered among the roster: No. 8 Jaeda Daniel, No. 24 Alana Smith, and No. 25 Abigail Rencheli. Daniel and Smith are currently listed at No. 21 in doubles. Daniel and Smith were part of ITA All-American doubles squads in 2020-21 when NC State went 20-6 overall (10-3). 

Penn State is coming off two match wins, both 5-2 victories over West Virginia (Jan. 21) and Syracuse (Jan. 23), respectively. Last season, playing mostly a conference-only schedule, the Nittany Lions went 10-8 overall (9-7). Sophomore Sofiya Chekhlystova is back as one of the team's top performers after finishing 8-6 in singles as a first-year during 2020-21.


Paving the Way

Earlier this week (Jan. 26), Wake Forest women's tennis head coach Jeff Wyshner announced his four seniors as this spring's team captains: Anna Brylin, Carolyn Campana, Saby Nihalani, and Peyton Pesavento.

"It is an honor for me to officially name Anna, Carolyn, Saby and Peyton captains of this year's team," Coach Wyshner said. "They've been critical to our success during a very eventful last couple of years, so they have already played a significant role in leadership long before now. I know they are really excited at the potential that this year's team has, and they will do everything they can both on the court and off to help us have as much success as possible and also the best possible team experience."


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Wake Forest is back for its second home showing next weekend (Feb. 5), bringing South Carolina and Campbell University to Winston-Salem.

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