Wake Forest University
Notre Dame
Deacs to Wrap Regular Season at Home
4/14/2022 1:20:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Matchups against Notre Dame and Louisville are set for Wake Forest.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The final weekend of the 2022 spring regular season is upon Wake Forest women's tennis, as the Demon Deacons will hold two matches on their home court.
Wake Forest plays Notre Dame (13-9, 5-6) on Friday in the early afternoon (April 15) and faces Louisville (8-12, 0-11) for its 'Senior Day' showing on Sunday (April 17).
Per yesterday's (April 13) Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, the Deacs jumped ahead three spots on the team standings board to No. 24. Throughout the season, five occasions have seen Wake Forest slide into the ITA's Top-25.
Last weekend, Wake Forest dropped a road test at Virginia before taking a 5-2 win at Virginia Tech in the Hokies' home finale.
Match Times
Friday (April 15) - No. 24 Wake Forest vs. No. 39 Notre Dame - 12 p.m.
Sunday (April 17) - No. 24 Wake Forest vs. Louisville - 11 a.m.
Last Time Out
No. 14 Virginia 5, No. 27 Wake Forest 2
Kicking off its final road trip of the regular season, Wake Forest fell to Virginia last Friday evening (April 8), 5-2.
The Demon Deacons moved to 29-25 in the all-time series versus the Cavaliers.
Anna Brylin and Brooke Killingsworth impressed in doubles, taking down No. 17 Emma Navarro/Hibah Shaikh for a third ranked win of the season. Additionally, the feat was the duo's tenth overall victory in 2022.
Within singles, Brylin, Samantha Martinelli, and Saby Nihalani each eventually stepped into a third set. Martinelli dominated in her final period, en route to her thirteenth solo victory of the spring. It was also her fifth consecutive win.
Killingsworth tacked on a second-set tiebreaker finish in an identical way to her first frame of play, giving the Deacs one final point in a fifth singles win. The sophomore won her ninth match in the last ten showings, a clip that dates back to Feb. 26.
No. 27 Wake Forest 5, Virginia Tech 2
Wrapping its weekend tilt, Wake Forest defeated Virginia Tech last Sunday (April 10) in the Hokies' home finale, 5-2.
The day was a notable one for the Demon Deacons' (13-9, 5-6) head coach, Jeff Wyshner, who picked up his 150th win in 12 seasons with the Black and Old Gold.
Wake Forest's current 13 wins this spring is its most since the 2018-19 season, as Sunday's feat also clinched a winning record for the Deacs' regular season play.
Brylin and Killingsworth gave up only one game in their doubles victory, now sitting at an 11-5 record. Carolyn Campana and Mia Ahmad secured the first point for the Deacons on a 6-2 third doubles win.
In singles, Nihalani went untouched in her second frame, ending sixth singles in a sweep to bump up Wake Forest's lead, 2-0. The Deacons' advantage was stretched to 3-0 when Carolyn Campana concluded play on court one in two sets. Soon afterward, Anna Campana delivered the clinch for Wake Forest in second singles. Virginia Tech notched wins on courts four and five. Holding down the last solo ongoing matchup, Brylin went into a third set, getting through lasting rallies for a 10-8 finish.
Brylin moved to a 13-6 singles record, tied with Martinelli and Casie Wooten for most solo wins on the team.
Thank You, Seniors!
A group of four will be honored before Sunday's match versus Louisville gets underway:
Anna Brylin | Senior | Short Hills, N.J. | Millburn High School
2022 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient … ITA Scholar-Athlete … two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree … became the 45th player in program history to reach a 100th win in either singles or doubles on Feb. 5, 2022, doing so in the latter … teamed up with Brooke Killingsworth to capture the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American Championship on Oct. 10, 2021, becoming the first Deacon duo to achieve such a feat … took down No. 20 Meg Kowalski of Georgia in singles during the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament … has collected a 45-33 career record in solo play up to date.
Carolyn Campana | Senior | Hillsborough, Calif. | IMG Academy / Vanderbilt
2021 ITA Singles All-American; first Deac to attain such honors since 2002 … was nationally ranked as high as 11th in singles in April 2021 as a junior … 2021 First Team All-ACC … 2021 All-ACC Academic honoree … has primarily played out of the No. 1 spot for the past three years … currently at four ranked wins this spring … impressively defeated No. 9 Jaeda Daniel of NC State on the road in three sets this season (March 8, 2022) … captured four wins over top-25 opponents in her sophomore campaign alone … played out of the No. 1 spot in doubles with partner Eliza Omirou during her junior year, as the duo ranked nationally as high as 23rd in March of 2021.
Saby Nihalani | Senior | New Delhi, India | Sardar Patel Vidyalaya
Has competed in three of her last four seasons … has primarily competed alongside Peyton Pesavento this season in third doubles … currently holds a 6-4 record in singles, mainly playing out of the sixth spot as of late … posted a 16-7 singles clip during the 2019-20 season … partnered with Anna Brylin for doubles action during that same season, as the two ranked as high as No. 46.
Peyton Pesavento | Senior | Advance, N.C. | Reynolds High School / Laurel Springs High School
2021 ITA Scholar-Athlete … stands at a 32-22 career singles mark … won three of four solo appearances in the early part of this season … has mainly competed alongside Saby Nihalani this season in third doubles … in 2021, Pesavento regularly competed as partners with Caroyn Campana.
Revamped Rankings
(*per April 13, 2022 in the ITA)
Team:
No. 24 - Wake Forest
Singles:
No. 37 - Carolyn Campana
No. 96 - Casie Wooten
Doubles:
No. 8 - Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth
No. 41 - Samantha Martinelli/Casie Wooten
Scouting the Opposition
Notre Dame enters the weekend at No. 39, having gone 5-6 against ACC opponents. Wake Forest has won three of the last four matchups against the Fighting Irish. Junior Page Freeman, No. 72 in ITA singles, leads the team in solo wins (13). Julia Andreach (No. 93 in ITA singles) and Maria Olivia Castedo are two additional standouts in individual play. Castedo and Freeman combine for a doubles tandem that ranks 19th in the country.
Looking for its first conference win, Louisville has lost six of its last seven contests. The Cardinals visit NC State tomorrow (April 15) for its penultimate showing of the regular season. Junior Tatiana Simova has collected ten singles wins and has partnered with Andrea Di Palma to lead Louisville in doubles (10-3). Chelsea Sawyer/Dina Chaika hold a 10-8 mark as a duo.
Series History
Versus Notre Dame
Series: Notre Dame leads 16-13
Last Meeting: March 12, 2021
Result: L, 3-4
Versus Louisville
Series: Wake Forest leads 7-1
Last Meeting: March 14, 2021
Result: W, 4-3
Up Next
ACC postseason play starts next week, with the 2022 Championships running from April 20-24.
Players Mentioned
