Wake Forest University
Florida State
Deacons Head to The Sunshine State for First Road Conference Matchups
3/8/2023 10:53:00 PM | Women's Tennis
You can find women’s tennis down South this weekend!
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest women's tennis preps for its first weekend of road play in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) competition, visiting Florida State on Friday (March 10) before traveling to Miami for a Sunday showing (March 12).
The Demon Deacons currently stand at 11-5 overall on the year, holding a 2-1 conference record clip. Six straight match wins have gone the way of the team.
Wake Forest was tabbed No. 19 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, released earlier this week (March 7). It was the program's highest team ranking since May 25, 2022, when the Deacs finished last spring at No. 23.
The Deacs have only played one opponent in a true road setting this spring – at South Carolina last month (Feb. 19).
The Matches
Friday, March 10 – Wake Forest at Florida State – 4:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, March 12 – Wake Forest at Miami – 12 p.m. ET
Last Time Out
Friday, March 3, 2023 – Wake Forest 5, Clemson 2
Wake Forest women's tennis again showcased a full focus last Friday afternoon at home (March 3), as the team knocked off Clemson (11-3, 1-2) for its first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) win of the spring.
The victory by the Demon Deacons (9-5, 1-1) included a fifth consecutive one over Clemson in the all-time series. For the year, Wake Forest has now won four matches in a row.
After gaining control of the doubles point, rainy conditions forced the Deacs to move competition indoors, as the early beginnings of singles play unfolded. Anna Brylin and Brooke Killingsworth were dominant from the jump to help Wake Forest stay ahead in the scoring margin. Later on, for the second straight match, freshman Neven Carton again clinched the match point in fourth singles. Casie Wooten followed with a first-singles victory to end the contest.
Sunday, March 5, 2023 – Doubleheader
Back on its home courts for a full Sunday (March 5), Wake Forest women's tennis continued its groove into Sunday (March 5), hosting a doubleheader. The Demon Deacons (11-5, 2-1) firstly knocked off No. 19 Georgia Tech (7-4, 2-2), for its highest ranked win of the spring on a 4-2 finish. An hour later, Wake Forest defeated Middle Tennessee (8-4) in another 4-2 decision.
Additionally, Sunday featured the first victory over a top-25 opponent for the team since March 6, 2021, when Wake Forest ironically swept Georgia Tech at home, which was ranked No. 13 at the time.
Senior Maddie Lynch had her clutch gene on full display throughout the day, clinching both matches through singles for her Deacons. The Chagrin Falls, Ohio native has won four solo matches this spring. Three of those wins has seen her provide the clinching point.
Brooke Killingsworth went undefeated throughout the weekend's entirety, piecing together three wins in singles and two in doubles.
Match 1 – Wake Forest 4, No. 19 Georgia Tech 2
Gritty play was the story of part one of Sunday's doubleheader, as Wake Forest stepped into a big opportunity against the No. 19 Yellow Jackets. Nevena Carton and Whitley Pate set the tone in doubles, as action went back and forth on both remaining courts before No. 20 Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth sealed the deal in a tiebreaker.
In singles, Georgia Tech tied things up early but Pate notched a straight-sets win to give Wake Forest a slight edge. Several third-set battles then took place, capped off by wins by Killingsworth and Maddie Lynch.
Wake Forest leads 24-20 in the all-time series versus Georgia Tech.
Match 2 – Wake Forest 4, Middle Tennessee 2
Back and active just over an hour after the lengthy Georgia Tech matchup, Wake Forest fought through some fatigue to again finish victoriously. The Deacs were dominant in doubles, highlighted by a 6-1 showing from the freshmen duo of Nevena Carton/Whitley Pate. It was their third win in a row.
Mia Ahmad and Jingyi Li both moved into the singles lineup, with the former picking up her third solo victory of 2022-23. Brooke Killingsworth showed the upper hand in her own match, helping stretch the Deacon lead.
After the Blue Raiders worked to narrow things, Maddie Lynch again seized control to make a handful of key actions, giving Wake Forest the clinch for an undefeated day of play.
On a Roll
Playing at the No. 2 spot, Casie Wooten/Mia Ahmad have racked up eight doubles wins in a row. Additionally the pair has only lost two matches this spring.
The freshmen duo of Nevena Carton/Whitley Pate has caught fire since the 75th annual Blue Gray National Tennis Classic held a few weeks ago (Feb. 24-25), winning three consecutive doubles matches as a duo and only letting up six total games through those victories.
Individually, Anna Brylin is enjoying a five-win streak in singles. Her 12-1 record paces the Deacs and she recently earned a national ranking for the first time in her collegiate career.
Revamped Rankings
Wake Forest moved up ten spots on the ITA's latest list of national team rankings, now within the top-20 at No. 19. A couple of program players have also climbed the ladder within individual rankings:
ITA Singles:
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No. 38 – Casie Wooten (moved ahead one spot)
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No. 42 – Anna Brylin (moved ahead seven spots)
ITA Doubles:
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No. 16 – Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth (moved ahead four sports)
Series History
Versus Florida State
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Series: Tied at 22-22
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Last Time: March 6, 2022
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Result: W, 6-1
Versus Miami
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Series: Miami leads, 23-1
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Last Time: March 4, 2022
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Result: L, 3-4
Scouting the Opposition
Ranked No. 48 in the ITA, Florida State stands at 4-1 at home but has suffered losses in four of its last five matchups (6-5 overall). The Seminoles have begun on a 1-2 start in ACC play. Vic Allen leads with a 8-2 singles mark, having won four in a row and being undefeated at 6-0 in the No. 1 slot. Anna Arkadianou is the team's lone ranked player (No. 70 in ITA Singles). Three of Florida State's doubles teams have picked up four victories this spring.
Miami is slotted one spot higher than Wake Forest in the latest team national standings, currently at No. 18. A doubles tandem and an individual make up the Hurricanes' pool of rankings:
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No. 14 – Daevenia Achong/Alexa Noel (Doubles)
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No. 18 – Alexa Noel (Singles)
Miami has won four of five appearances at home. Playing at mainly fourth and fifth singles, Mia Mack holds a 6-1 record through the season thus far. Noel and Isabella Pfennig are undefeated together in doubles (6-0).
Up Next
Wake Forest will have a 12-day break to rest up before again stepping out of state for matches at Louisville (March 24) and Notre Dame (March 26).
Players Mentioned
