Wake Forest University
#14 Virginia
Deacons Will Spend Final Regular-Season Road Trip in Virginia
4/7/2022 12:59:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Cavaliers and Hokies are up next for Wake Forest.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The regular season's final two weeks have arrived for Wake Forest women's tennis, as the Demon Deacons take a weekend trip to their neighboring state: Virginia.
Wake Forest takes on the Virginia Cavaliers (14-4, 6-3) on Friday afternoon (April 8) and heads to Virginia Tech (6-12, 2-7) for a Sunday meeting (April 10).
Per yesterday's (April 6) weekly Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) updated standings, Wake Forest sits at No. 27 in the country. Virginia slid to No. 14.
The Deacs are coming off two home appearances versus top-15, nationally-ranked 'Big Four' foes in North Carolina and Duke.
Four Wake Forest players have piled up ten or more solo victories throughout this spring: Casie Wooten (13), Anna Brylin (12), Samantha Martinelli (12), and Brooke Killingsworth (10).
Match Times
Friday (April 8) - No. 27 Wake Forest at No. 14 Virginia - 4 p.m.
Sunday (April 10) - No. 27 Wake Forest at Virginia Tech - 1 p.m.
Last Time Out
April 1 – No. 1 North Carolina 5, No. 26 Wake Forest 2
Facing a noteworthy test on its home court, Wake Forest fought hard against No. 1 North Carolina last Friday evening (April 1) before suffering a 5-2 defeat.
Samantha Martinelli had a notable performance for the Black and Old Gold, capturing her first ranked solo win over a nationally-ranked opponent.
Saby Nihalani landed her second singles win in as many matches.
A total of six ranked International Tennis Association (ITA) players in singles competed in the match.
The Demon Deacons (12-7, 4-4) fell to a 16-45 record in the all-time series versus the Tar Heels.
April 3 – No. 14 Duke 4, No. 26 Wake Forest 3
Back for another home appearance, Wake Forest took part in an absolute dogfight against Duke University (13-3, 8-2) on Sunday (April 3). The Demon Deacons ultimately fell short of a team victory, 4-3.
Samantha Martinelli and Brooke Killingsworth had the best starts for the Deacs once singles opened, taking 3-0 and 3-1 gains, respectively. The two became Wake Forest's first players to collect opening-set victories, each tacking a 6-1 decision.
Martinelli shined throughout her rallies, winning the first three games of set two. Killingsworth also continued to have the upper hand on court five (6-1, 3-1).
Martinelli ended her match in a dominant fashion, notching the first singles win for Wake Forest and tying the match at 1-1. Killingsworth maintained control throughout her own match, getting the deed done in a pair of sets and placing the Deacons ahead, 2-1.
The Blue Devils' win in second singles led to another tied score, 2-2.
After dropping her first set, Carolyn Campana stayed alive in the second (7-5) to surge into a third period. Brylin mounted an eye-popping comeback in her second set, forcing a third frame of her own. Nevertheless, Duke won in sixth singles to again place a slight lead.
Campana erupted through her final minutes of play, downing No. 20 Georgia Drummy in an impressive, come-from-behind victory to keep Wake Forest in it, 3-3. It was the senior's fourth ranked singles win of the year.
All eyes then turned to court five, with Anna Brylin battling in a third set. The match intensity increased by each rally, as Brylin broke for 4-4 on an overrule. However, Duke held on for the third singles win, sealing the 4-3 decision.
Sam's Stellar Stretch
Graduate student Samantha Martinelli is on a personal streak, having won four consecutive singles matches and standing at a 6-0 clip in ACC play. Last weekend, she was at her best, tallying individual wins against North Carolina and Duke.
Martinelli captured her first ranked singles victory with the Black and Old Gold in the match versus the Tar Heels, defeating No. 33 Carson Tanguilig in a three-set feat. Less than 48 hours later, the Denver native merely let up two games within the Duke matchup en route to her twelfth win of the spring. Martinelli has played out of the fourth singles spot in those victories.
Revamped Rankings
Currently resting at No. 27 in the ITA as a team, Wake Forest has consistently seen several of its players appear across the board in singles and doubles:
(*as of April 6, 2022)
Singles
No. 35 - Carolyn Campana
No. 94 - Casie Wooten
Doubles
No. 13 - Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth
No. 40 - Samantha Martinelli/Casie Wooten
Scouting the Opposition
Virginia is led by reigning NCAA Singles Champion Emma Navarro, who has won all but one of her matches in solo play this spring (14-1). The sophomore is ranked fifth in ITA singles. Natasha Subhash (20-9) and Elaine Chervinsky (16-10) are two other notable standouts, standing at No. 40 and 53, respectively. Chervinsky was named ACC Women's Tennis Freshman of the Week on two consecutive occasions back in February. Navarro and Amber O'Dell have pieced a 6-1 record in doubles, good enough to rank at the ninth spot in the ITA. Additionally, Navarro's pairing with Hibah Shaikh (No. 17) has gone undefeated with an 8-0 record.
Virginia Tech has suffered losses in seven of its last eight matches and will host No. 3 NC State tomorrow (April 8) before Sunday's contest. Junior Erika Cheng has collected a team-leading eight wins in singles. Semra Aksu and Dariya Radulova each have picked up seven solo victories. Charlotte Cartledge (6-5) has also stood out, holding a three-match win streak and picking up Freshman of the Week honors on March 29. Annie Clark and Katie Andreini lead the Hokies with seven wins in doubles.
Series History
Versus Virginia
Series: Wake Forest leads, 29-24
Last Meeting: April 9, 2021
Result: L, 2-5
Versus Virginia Tech
Series: Wake Forest leads, 30-6
Last Meeting: April 11, 2021
Result: W, 6-1
Up Next
Wake Forest concludes its final weekend of regular-season play at home, hosting Notre Dame (April 15) and Louisville (April 17).
Players Mentioned
