Wake Forest University
Louisville
Deacs to Step Back Into Play with Out-of-State Road Matches
3/23/2023 9:07:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Women’s tennis returns this weekend!
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Stepping back into action following a 12-day hiatus from match competition, Wake Forest women's tennis will again direct its focus to out-of-state opportunities. The Demon Deacons (11-7, 2-3) are set to visit Louisville on Friday (March 24) before holding a Sunday showing at Notre Dame (March 26).
Live stats will be on hand for Friday's contest at Louisville, while Sunday at Notre Dame will feature both live stats and live streaming.
Four weeks of the regular-season remain on Wake Forest's radar. The Deacs most recently faced Florida State and Miami on the road.
Earlier this week (March 21), Wake Forest slid back into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) top-25 within team standings.
The Matches
Friday, March 24 – No. 25 Wake Forest at Louisville – 4 p.m. ET
Sunday, March 26 – No. 25 Wake Forest at No. 27 Notre Dame – 11 a.m. ET
Last Time Out
Friday, March 10, 2023 – Florida State 5, Wake Forest 2
Taking on a challenge of its first road match within this year's Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) competition, Wake Forest showed fight throughout Friday evening (March 10) but suffered a 5-2 defeat at Florida State.
The Deacons turned heads in their collective efforts to secure the doubles point during the first half of Friday. In singles, Casie Wooten headlined the night with a come-from-behind solo victory in three sets, downing No. 70 Anna Arkadianou. The performance was the junior's second ranked singles win of 2023.
The match also featured a fourth consecutive doubles win for both Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth and Nevena Carton/Whitley Pate.
Sunday, March 12, 2023 – Miami 7, Wake Forest 0
Finishing out its stay in The Sunshine State on Sunday (March 12), Wake Forest visited No. 18 Miami (9-2, 4-1) for a nationally-ranked, top-25 matchup. The host ultimately captured a 7-0 sweep over the Demon Deacons.
Captain Things
Continuing to lead the Deacs in singles wins (12-2), graduate student Anna Brylin is currently one of six ACC players to have a dozen solo victories this spring. Additionally, her four wins over ranked opponents are already a career-best mark for a season. Brylin won all but one of her matches in February, in the midst of a 5-1 stretch. The Short Hills, New Jersey, native has played 13 of her 14 season appearances in the second singles spot.
Revamped Rankings
Wake Forest moved ahead three spots to now stand at No. 25 in the ITA team standings. It is the second time in 2023 that the Deacons have earned a top-25 selection. Three total players continue to maintain marks:
ITA Singles:
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No. 41 – Casie Wooten
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No. 52 – Anna Brylin
Brylin has steadied an individual ranking since Feb. 21 after attaining such a nod for the first time in her collegiate career.
ITA Doubles:
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No. 26 – Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth
Series History
Versus Louisville
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Series: Wake Forest leads, 8-1
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Last Time: April 17, 2022
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Result: W, 5-2
Versus Notre Dame
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Series: Notre Dame leads, 16-14
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Last Time: April 15, 2022
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Result: W, 7-0
Scouting the Opposition
Louisville enters the weekend still in search for its first conference win of the year, after starting 0-6 in the ACC. The Cardinals are 8-8 overall, with all of the team's wins happening on its home courts. Sophomore Tyra Richardson has stacked a team-leading 10 singles wins this spring, while team veteran Rhea Verma has added seven. In doubles, Cici Xin and Jamilah Snells have been on a roll as a duo, winning their last eight completed matches and mainly competing in second doubles.
Standing at an 11-6 (1-4) clip, Notre Dame was tabbed No. 27 in the national rankings this week and are 8-2 at home. Both a solo player and doubles pair make up the Fighting Irish's representation in individual rankings.
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No. 29 – Julia Andreach/Carrie Beckman (ITA Doubles)
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No. 59 – Page Freeman (ITA Singles)
Andreach/Beckman and Rylie Hanford/Yashna Yellayi hold ten doubles wins apiece currently. Just in her first collegiate year, Bojana Pozder paces Notre Dame in solo action, having taken 10 of 13 decided matches. Freeman is 9-5 in singles as the No. 1 slot, including two ranked wins.
Up Next
Wake Forest is back at home next weekend for the first time in nearly four weeks. The Deacs welcome in Boston College on Friday (March 31) before hosting a Sunday doubleheader versus Syracuse and in-state foe Elon University (April 2). The team will hold its 'Senior Day' during that Sunday, honoring Anna Brylin and Maddie Lynch.
Players Mentioned
