Wake Forest University
Virginia Tech
Deacs Down Hokies for Fifth Conference Win on Friday Night
4/14/2023 10:35:00 PM | Women's Tennis
New milestones and strong individual showings comprised Wake Forest’s home outing.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Enduring scattered rainy conditions and ramping up play in its final week of regular-season competition, Wake Forest women's tennis (15-11, 5-7) defeated the visiting Hokies of Virginia Tech (10-12, 1-11) on Friday evening (April 14) for its fifth Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) win of the spring campaign.
Freshman Whitley Pate shined in a three-set appearance, ultimately clinching the match for Wake Forest in sixth singles. Her classmate, Nevena Carton, moved to 13-9 in solo play.
Wake Forest handed Virginia Tech its sixth straight loss of the season. The Deacs additionally bumped its home record to 11-3 on the year.
Recording their 58th career win in doubles, No. 14 Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth are now tied with Liz Barker/Dana Evans (1991-94) for fourth all-time as a tandem throughout program history. Named All-Americans by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) in 2022, the duo currently leads Wake Forest with a 14-4 mark this year.
The victory also featured head coach Jeff Wyshner's 400th combined career win, including stints in leading both men and women's programs.
Brylin's win in doubles has her tied for fourth all-time (94) with Jackie Van Wijk (1985-89) and Dana Evans (1991-95).
Currently on an eight-match win streak over the Hokies, the Deacs hold a 32-6 all-time record against Virginia Tech.
How it Happened
- After rain caused an early delay in doubles, Nevena Carton/Whitley Pate took a 2-1 lead on third.
- Meanwhile, No. 14 Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth went up 2-0.
- The ranked pair stayed untouched with a 3-0 clip before detection of lighting caused suspension of play.
- Meanwhile, No. 14 Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth went up 2-0.
- Back on the courts again, the Deacs remained balanced, as Brylin/Killingsworth built its advantage to 4-0 and Carton/Pate took another consecutive game.
- Mia Ahmad/Casie Wooten were even at 2-2 in second doubles.
- A crafted swing by Pate allowed herself and Carton to seize a 4-1 lead.
- Another shower of rain led to a second suspension of action, with the Deacons leading in doubles on each of the three courts at the time.
- Stepping back into play, Brylin/Killingsworth completed a 6-0 sweep on court one.
- Ahmad/Wooten and Carton/Pate led 5-2 apiece in their matches.
- After dropping one more game, the latter bounced back to clinch doubles for Wake Forest in a 6-3 finish.
- Ahmad/Wooten and Carton/Pate led 5-2 apiece in their matches.
- Second doubles went unfinished, with Ahmad/Wooten in front, 5-4.
- Brylin swung into a quick start in singles play, winning her first three games in the opening set.
- Pate enjoyed a 3-0 boost of her own on court six.
- The two became Wake Forest's first to grab set wins, each doing so in a 6-2 fashion.
- Pate enjoyed a 3-0 boost of her own on court six.
- Killingsworth tied up court three at 4-4.
- The junior split her next two games to keep the board even (5-5).
- Carton forced a third set after bouncing back in her second frame (0-6, 6-2).
- Brylin upped Wake Forest's match lead to 2-0 on a straight-sets victory.
- It was the team captain's fifth conference win of 2023.
- An all-out, first-set tiebreaker saw Killingsworth finish victorious (7-6 (6)), ending as the Deacons' third player to win an opening period.
- Maddie Lynch created a 4-4 tie in her second set within fifth singles.
- Virginia Tech finished out a win in first singles, trailing 2-1 in the match.
- Pate entered a third set, while Lynch found herself in a second-set tiebreaker.
- The Hokies tied the contest at 2-2 on a fifth-singles victory.
- Nevertheless, the tied margin was short-lived, as Carton helped her Deacs regain the lead on court four.
- Dominant in her third set, Pate provided the match clinch for Wake Forest.
- It was the freshman's first such feat in a conference showing this year.
- Killingsworth played out her court as the lone remaining match.
- The junior battled through lengthy rallies in three sets, fighting for a grueling victory to close out the night in extra points.
- Wake Forest defeated Virginia Tech, 5-2.
Doubles Results:
- No. 14 Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth (WF) def. Katie Andreini/Erika Cheng (VT) 6-3
- Mia Ahmad/Casie Wooten (WF) vs. Semra Aksu/Ozlem Uslu (VT) 5-4, unfinished.
- Nevena Carton/Whitley Pate (WF) def. Charlotte Cartledge/Sabina Richtrova (VT) 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles Results:
- No. 54 Ozlem Uslu (VT) def. No. 49 Casie Wooten (WF) 3-6, 3-6
- No. 58 Anna Brylin (WF) def. Tamara Barad Itzhaki (VT) 6-2, 6-2
- Brooke Killingsworth (WF) vs. Driya Radulova (VT)
- Nevena Carton (WF) def. Semra Aksu (VT) 0-6, 6-2, 7-5
- Erika Cheng (VT) def. Maddie Lynch (WF) 0-6, 6-7 (3-7)
- Whitley Pate (WF) def. Katie Andreini (VT) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 5, 4, 6, 3
From the Head Honcho
"I was really pleased with the performance tonight," said head coach Jeff Wyshner. "A five-and-a-half-hour match with a lightning and rain delay proved to be a battle. I was pleased with Nevena and Whitley's toughness in winning those third sets in singles to clinch. It was the kind of effort from top to bottom that you want to have in April. Proud of the group!"
Up Next
Wake Forest is set to hold its regular-season finale at home once again on Sunday (April 16), featuring a doubleheader against Virginia and North Carolina A&T at noon and 4 p.m. ET, respectively.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,5,4,6,3
Players Mentioned
