Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Debbie Southern Invitational
Women’s Tennis Preps for First Fall Season Test at Debbie Southern Invitational
9/15/2022 12:41:00 PM | Women's Tennis
An annual event starts up the Deacs’ 2022 fall slate.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Fall competition for the 2022-23 school year officially gets underway for Wake Forest women's tennis this weekend, as the Demon Deacons step into the 35th annual Debbie Southern Fall Classic, hosted by Furman University. The invitational will run Friday through Sunday (Sept. 16-18).
Play is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. each day. One round of doubles will firstly make up Friday morning, followed by two rounds of singles. On Saturday, two rounds of singles and one of doubles will take place. A round of doubles will finish out the event on Sunday.
The Debbie Southern Fall Classic will be the first of six scheduled 2022 fall tournaments for Wake Forest.
Field of Teams
Clemson
Duke
Furman
Georgia Tech
Mississippi State
North Carolina
Ohio State
South Carolina
Vanderbilt
Wake Forest
Back in the Black and Old Gold
Six members return to the Demon Deacons' roster this year:
Mia Ahmad | Junior | Albertson, N.Y.
Last spring, Ahmad mainly competed in doubles, partnering with several different teammates. She ultimately played in 15 matches, winning eight in duo competition. In singles, Ahmad picked up victories in all three of her appearances. She was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Academic Honor Roll and selected as an ITA Scholar Athlete at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign.
Anna Brylin | Graduate Student | Short Hills, New Jersey
Acting as a team captain in 2021-22, Brylin provided reliable play for the Deacs in both solo and doubles competition, tying for the team lead in singles victories (16) while appearing in 27 spring matches. For her efforts, she was selected to the All-ACC third team. Brylin started the spring season in an exceptional manner, taking nine of her first ten singles matches. The Short Hills, New Jersey native grabbed four singles wins against ACC opponents. Twelve of Brylin's season wins occurred through straight sets.
In doubles, Brylin teamed up with Brooke Killingsworth to form a lethal duo, ranking as one of the best across the country. They ranked as high as No. 2 in ITA Doubles during the spring. Tallying a 15-6 overall record and taking down five ranked foes, the pair ultimately earned a bid to the 2022 NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships and collected ITA All-American recognition – the fifth all-time Wake Forest doubles tandem to receive such honors.
Brooke Killingsworth | Junior | Rogers, Ark.
Killingsworth took a leap in her second season at Wake Forest, finishing with 13 singles victories, which stood second-most on the team. Through February and March, the sophomore was at her best, winning nine of ten completed matches. In conference play, Killingsworth totaled a 7-3 overall record. Her stellar, aforementioned performances in doubles alongside Brylin led to All-America honors for the first time in her young career.
Samantha Martinelli | Graduate Student | Denver, Colo.
A newcomer on the Deacs' squad last season, Martinelli delivered an immediate impact, tying with Brylin and Wooten for the most wins in singles play. She ultimately ended the year on a 16-8 mark and played in 27 matches. Martinelli especially stood out against ACC foes, racking up nine individual conference wins. That particular total is second-highest in a single season within program records.
In doubles, Martinelli primarily played with Wooten to become another nationally-ranked force. Standing as high as No. 15 in ITA Doubles, the duo went 4-1 over opposing ranked pairs and earned a bid to the 2022 NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships. Four wins were grabbed by Martinelli and Wooten throughout ACC competition.
Maddie Lynch | Senior | Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Alongside Ahmad, Lynch went undefeated in her three doubles showings this past spring. She competed in one singles match, sweeping Anaiah Jones of NC Central (6-0, 6-0). Lynch was selected as an ACC Academic Honor Roll and ITA Scholar Athlete selection.
Casie Wooten | Junior | Torrance, Calif.
Holding the best singles 'win-loss' ratio on the team in the 2022 spring campaign (16-5), Wooten was another underclassman who elevated her game, emerging into a consistent, versatile threat. Competing in 24 matches, she was one of two Deacs to finish the spring ranked in ITA Singles, ending at No. 114. Wooten led Wake Forest in singles wins for much of the regular season, eventually tying with Brylin and Martinelli for the team-high mark. In only the third weekend of competition, the Torrance, California native provided the match clinch in her first career ranked win on Feb. 5, taking down No. 118 Megan Davies of South Carolina. Wooten added on two additional victories over national opponents during the course of the spring, and won seven of her final nine completed matches down the final stretch.
A trio of newcomers comprise Wake Forest's freshmen class – Nevena Carton of Locust, New Jersey, Jingyi "Stella" Li of Bradenton, Florida, and Whitley Pate of Daniel Island, South Carolina. Wake Forest tied for No. 15 within the Tennis Recruiting Network's (TRN) national list of recruiting classes for the Class of 2022. The Deacs were one of five Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) institutions to land in the Top 15.
Last year, playing in this same event, Killingsworth went undefeated in singles, grabbing three victories through three days of action. Brylin, Martinelli, and Wooten won two solo wins apiece. Ahmad and Lynch cruised through doubles competition (3-0), with Wooten doing the same with 2022 graduate Saby Nihalani. Brylin and Killingsworth notched a pair of doubles victories.
Up Next
The Deacs travel to nearby Greensboro next week for UNC Greensboro's hosted fall event (Sept. 24-25).
Players Mentioned
