Friday, February 16
New York, N.Y.
6:30 p.m.

Wake Forest University

4
vs
1

#13 Michigan

Luca Pow

Demon Deacons Down No. 11 Seed Michigan in Round of 16 of ITA National Team Indoor Championship

2/16/2024 11:32:00 PM | Men's Tennis

No. 6 Wake Forest will now move on to face No. 14 Arizona in the quarterfinals.

NEW YORK – Behind three straight-set single wins, the sixth-seeded Wake Forest men's tennis team defeated No. 11 seed and 13th-ranked Michigan, 4-1, in the first round of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship Friday at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in New York.
 
With the win, the Demon Deacons (8-2, 0-0 ACC) will move on to the quarterfinals to face No. 14 Arizona Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
 
Saturday's Quarterfinal Matchups
No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Harvard
No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 5 Tennessee
No. 2 TCU vs. No. 10 Texas A&M
No. 6 Wake Forest vs. No. 14 Arizona
 
Saturday's showdown between the 14th-seeded Wildcats and the Demon Deacons can be streamed via Cracked Racquets and live results can be found here.
 
Friday's win over the 11th-seeded Wolverines (5-4, 0-0 Big 10) marked Wake Forest's fourth victory over a top-20 opponent this season. Additionally, it marked the Demon Deacons' second time advancing to the quarterfinals of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in the past three years.
 
The Deacs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead Friday after securing the doubles point with wins in the second and third slots.
 
Leading 1-0 after doubles play, the Demon Deacons carried their momentum into singles, taking three straight-set wins in slots two, four and six, respectively.
 
Of note, with his win on court six, freshman Luca Pow improved to a stellar 8-2 in dual singles action to start his collegiate career. Additionally, Pow and doubles partner senior Luciano Tacchi improved to 7-2 in dual doubles action Friday.
 
How It Happened
  • The Demon Deacons got off to an excellent start in doubles play, taking the lead on each court.
  • Moroni/Thomson became the first doubles pairing to win a match as they knocked off Will Cooksey/Patorn Hanchaikul, 6-2.
  • The Demon Deacons then clinched the doubles point after Tacchi/Pow edged Alex Cairo/Nicholas Steiglehner 7-6 (9-7) in third doubles.
  • Wake Forest led 1-0, heading into singles play.
  • The Deacs got off to a solid start in singles, taking the opening set on 4-of-6 courts.
    • Of note, No. 23 Filippo Moroni stormed back to take set one 7-6 (7-2) over No. 17 Gavin Young of Michigan.
  • The Wolverines evened the ledger at one apiece with a win in third singles.
  • Luciano Tacchi then gave the Demon Deacons a 2-1 lead after earning a 6-4, 6-4 victory on court four.
  • Seconds later, Luca Pow extended the Deacs' advantage, securing a 6-4, 6-3 win in sixth singles.
  • No. 49 DK Suresh Ekambaram then clinched the match behind a 6-2, 7-6 (11-9) victory in second singles over No. 48 Jacob Bickersteth.
  • Sixth-seeded Wake Forest defeated 11th-seeded Michigan, 4-1.
 
Singles Results
1. #23 Filippo Moroni (WF) vs. #17 Gavin Young (MICH) 7-6 (7-2), 2-1, unfinished
2. #49 DK Suresh Ekambaram (WF) def. #48 Jacob Bickersteth (MICH) 6-2, 7-6 (11-9)
3. #125 Patorn Hanchaikul (MICH) def. Matthew Thomson (WF) 6-3, 6-3
4. Luciano Tacchi (WF) def. Bjorn Swenson (MICH) 6-4, 6-4
5. Holden Koons (WF) vs. Will Cooksey (MICH) 3-6, 3-5, unfinished
6. Luca Pow (WF) def. Nicholas Steiglehner (MICH) 6-4, 6-3
 
Doubles Results
1. #7 Holden Koons/DK Suresh Ekambaram (WF) vs. Jacob Bickersteth/Gavin Young (MICH) 6-6, unfinished
2. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WF) def. Will Cooksey/Patorn Hanchaikul (MICH) 6-2
3. Luca Pow/Luciano Tacchi (WF) def. Alex Cairo/Nicholas Steiglehner (MICH) 7-6 (9-7)
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,4,6,2)
 
From Coach Bresky
"It's always exciting to get that Friday night match, especially in New York City, with all of our alumni here. Michigan has a great squad, and they've been really good for a long time. We're excited to get the win. As the matches went on, I thought we played really well in some spots. We're excited to move on and to get another night match. Hopefully we'll have another big crowd. I thought our crowd was amazing tonight. We're excited to move on." - Head coach Tony Bresky
 
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now move on to face No. 14 Arizona in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
 
Follow the Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
 

Team Stats

#1 Doubles Match

12
Jacob Bickersteth/ Gavin Young [MICH]
60
6UF

#2 Doubles Match

1
Will Cooksey/ Patorn Hanchaikul [MICH]
2
6

#3 Doubles Match

1
Alex Cairo/ Nicholas Steiglehner [MICH]
6
7

Order of Finish:

2,3

#1 Singles Match

123
Gavin Young / 0 (17/-) [MICH]
610
LogoMoroni, Filippo / 0 (23/-) [WF]
72UF

#2 Singles Match

12
Jacob Bickersteth / 0 (48/-) [MICH]
26
LogoSuresh Ekambaram, DK / 0 (49/-) [WF]
67

#3 Singles Match

12
Patorn Hanchaikul / 0 (125/-) [MICH]
66
LogoThomson, Matthew / 0 [WF]
33

#4 Singles Match

12
Bjorn Swenson / 0 [MICH]
44
LogoTacchi, Luciano / 0 [WF]
66

#5 Singles Match

123
Will Cooksey / 0 [MICH]
650
LogoKoons, Holden / 0 [WF]
33UF

#6 Singles Match

12
Nicholas Steiglehner / 0 [MICH]
43
LogoPow, Luca / 0 [WF]
66

Order of Finish:

3,4,6,2

Players Mentioned

/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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