Wake Forest University
Tulsa
Deacons to Make Return to Blue Gray Classic
2/23/2023 10:08:00 AM | Women's Tennis
A fifth appearance in the annual event will make up Wake Forest’s weekend.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Packing bags for more out-of-state competition, Wake Forest women's tennis is set to head Southwest and partake in the 75th annual Blue Gray National Tennis Classic, held in Montgomery, Alabama.
With the first round of action starting on Friday (Feb. 24), Wake Forest will face the University of Tulsa at 10 a.m. ET in Lagoon Park. Live scoring will be available.
This weekend will mark the Demon Deacons' (5-5, 0-1) fifth time involved in the event throughout the last six years.
Wake Forest was recently tabbed No. 38 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) team rankings, publicized on Tuesday (Feb. 21). The team most recently split time at home and on the road in matches versus No. 9 NC State (Feb. 17) and at South Carolina (Feb. 19).
The Deacs have appeared in the Blue Gray Classic title match in each of its last four participating years. In February 2020, the Deacs took home the championship crown after downing No. 5 Princeton.
Last Time Out
Friday, Feb. 17 – No. 10 NC State 7, Wake Forest 0
Back at its home center for the fifth straight showing, Wake Forest hosted Big Four foe and nationally-ranked No. 10 NC State this past Friday (Feb. 17). After battling in a close doubles finish, the Demon Deacons ultimately suffered a 7-0 defeat in their Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opener.
The day saw a third consecutive doubles victory for Mia Ahmad/Casie Wooten, as the pair confidently knocked off the Wolfpack's Sophie Abrams/Abigail Rencheli in a 6-2 decision.
Holding her own in the first dual matchup against a ranked opponent of her collegiate career, Nevena Carton forced a third-set tiebreaker in fourth singles.
Wake Forest now leads 48-16 over NC State in the all-time series.
Sunday, Feb. 19 – South Carolina 4, Wake Forest 3
Out of state for its first true road match of 2023, the Demon Deacons visited South Carolina on Sunday (Feb. 19) for an afternoon showing. After Wake Forest grabbed the doubles point, both sides battled through hours of nail-biting singles play before the host Gamecocks held on for a 4-3 victory.
Anna Brylin shined on Sunday, collecting her first ranked win in singles this season. Additionally, the graduate student now holds 152 combined singles and doubles wins. Her solo victory on Sunday moved her to No. 22 on the all-time program list, passing former teammate Anna Ulyashchenko. Brylin currently paces Wake Forest with an 8-1 singles record.
Having played together in each of the 10 matches, Mia Ahmad/Casie Wooten posted a fourth straight doubles win.
Brylin and Killingsworth's doubles victory was their fifth of the year, a mark that leads the team.
About a Year Ago …
Last year, Wake Forest entered the 74th annual Blue Gray Classic with a No. 18 team ranking and ultimately made its way to a championship appearance. After a weather delay canceled out doubles play against Troy University, the Deacs swept the Trojans in singles, as Casie Wooten and Brooke Killingsworth were one of four players to pick up solo wins.
Stepping into the semifinal round versus No. 24 Texas Tech, Wake Forest was unable to grab the doubles point bounced back through singles competition en route to a 4-2 finish for its first ranked victory of 2021-22. The showing featured Wooten's second career win over a ranked opponent. Killingsworth and Anna Brylin added solo wins apiece as the Deacons punched their ticket to the title match.
Facing a top-10 foe in Oklahoma State for the championship, the Deacs battled hard after suffering another loss in doubles but fell short in a 4-2 decision by the Cowgirls. Killingsworth was the line Wake Forest player to notch a singles win.
Ranked Deacs
With new ITA player rankings being released for the second time this spring (Feb. 21), Wake Forest continues to have three total individuals scattered among the lists:
Singles
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No. 39 – Casie Wooten
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No. 49 – Anna Brylin
Doubles
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No. 20 – Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth
Brylin's slot in singles marked her first of the year. It is also her highest career ranking up to date.
Nearing Milestones
The nationally-ranked pairing of Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth currently holds 49 career doubles wins. One more victory would make the duo become just the sixth all-time Wake Forest tandem in program history to reach 50 or more. Brylin/Killingsworth already stand sixth on the list of duo wins.
Having recently notched her 150th combined win through singles and doubles, Brylin only needs one more doubles victory to slide into the program's top-10 of combined wins. The team captain leads Wake Forest with an exceptional 8-1 record through solo competition.
The Rest of the Field
Wake Forest will be one of eight teams representing in the Blue Gray Classic.
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Alabama (5-2)
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No. 31 Arizona (9-3)
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Furman (4-6, 2-0)
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No. 32 Illinois (6-3, 1-0)
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No. 47 Texas Tech (6-3)
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Tulsa (7-3, 1-0)
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No. 58 Yale (5-3)
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No. 38 Wake Forest (5-5, 0-1)
A few players are ranked within the field of opponents:
ITA Singles
No. 102 – Ashley Yeah (Illinois)
ITA Doubles
No. 31 – Katherine Duong/Megan Heuser (Illinois)
No. 40 – Metka Komac/Cristina Tiglea (Texas Tech)
No. 51 – Jess Dawson/Sara Isabel (Furman)
Scouting the Golden Hurricanes
Tulsa enters the Blue Gray Classic having won four of its last five matches. Enjoying a five-match win streak, Laia Conde Monfort leads the way individually with a 7-2 singles record. In doubles, Amy Leather/Myroslava Zelenchuk have pieced a 7-2 clip of their own. Leather and Maria Berlanga have added six solo wins apiece. Berlanga has paired with Lily Hutchings to record a team-high eight doubles victories, having taken four in a row. The Golden Hurricanes' current record stands best in the American Athletic Conference.
Up Next
Conference play starts for Wake Forest next weekend, beginning with a home showing against Clemson on Friday (March 3).
Players Mentioned
