Wake Forest Earns First ACC Win, Sweeps Louisville

Friday, March 1

Winston-Salem, N.C.

4 P.M.

Wake Forest University

Louisville

3/1/2024 7:04:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score PDF Results

The Demon Deacons will look to improve to 2-0 in conference play on Sunday against Notre Dame.

By: Dylan Shackelford

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Behind a seventh-consecutive victory for senior captain Casie Wooten, the Wake Forest women's tennis team opened up conference play with a 7-0 sweep over Louisville Friday afternoon at the Wake Forest Tennis Center.

In doubles, senior Brooke Killingsworth and graduate student Marcella Cruz improved to 6-3 in dual play this season after a 6-4 victory in first doubles, which clinched the eighth doubles point of the campaign for the Demon Deacons (7-5, 1-0 ACC) in 12 matches. On court three, freshman Sankavi Gownder and sophomore Whitley Pate earned their fifth win as a pair this campaign, which ranks second on the team.

Wooten extended her winning streak to seven matches and leads the team with a 7-2 record in dual play as she took down Jamilah Snells, 6-4, 6-2. Last week, Wooten moved up to the No. 26-ranked player in the ITA Singles Rankings.

Gownder has also been impressive in singles, as she now ranks second on the team with six wins to just two losses in dual play this campaign after a 6-4, 6-3 win in fifth singles on Friday. Additionally, sophomore Nevena Carton picked up her third-consecutive victory with a 6-0, 6-1 victory in fourth singles over Germany Davis.

The Demon Deacons improved to 10-1 all-time over the Cardinals (4-6, 0-3 ACC), including 10-consecutive wins.

How It Happened

The Demon Deacons jumped out to an early lead on courts one and three in doubles, as Killingsworth/Cruz led 3-1 and Gownder/Pate led 4-0.
- The Wake Forest duo in third doubles notched their fifth win of dual play this season, as they took down Gretkowski/Noguero, 6-0.
First and second doubles remained tight, deadlocked at 4-4 and 5-5, respectively.
Killingsworth/Cruz clinched the doubles point for the Demon Deacons with a 6-4 victory on court one.
- Wake Forest retired on court two.
In singles, the Deacs took dominant first-set leads on courts two, four and six.
- Killingsworth led 5-0 in second singles.
- Carton led 4-0 in fourth singles.
- Pate led 4-1 in sixth singles.
Carton was the first to take a set, as she took it 6-0 on court four.
- Killingsworth and Pate followed right behind her with first-set victories on courts two (6-2) and six (6-3), respectively.
The Deacs continued to dominate and took the first set on all six courts.
Carton gave Wake Forest a 2-0 lead with a 6-0, 6-1 victory on court four.
- Shortly after, Killingsworth brought the Deacs to one win away from clinching the match, as she took second singles, 6-2, 6-0.
Pate clinched the match for Wake Forest following a 6-3, 6-3 victory in sixth singles.
The two teams agreed to play the remaining three matches out.
- On court one, Wooten improved to 7-2 with seven-consecutive wins after a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
- Gownder notched another singles win with a 6-4, 6-3 victory in fifth singles.
- Cruz completed the sweep over the Cardinals following a 6-4, 6-4 victory on court three.
The Demon Deacons defeated the Cardinals, 7-0 and grabbed their first ACC win of the season.

Doubles Results:

Cruz/Killingsworth (WFU) def. Snells/Mould (LOU) 6-4
Peresypkina/Davis (LOU) def. Blanch/Wooten (WFU) 6-6, WFU retired
Gownder/Pate (WFU) def. Gretkowski/Noguero (LOU) 6-0

Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles Results:

No. 26 Casie Wooten (WFU) def. Jamilah Snells (LOU) 6-4, 6-2
Brooke Killingsworth (WFU) def. Lillian Mould (LOU) 6-2, 6-0
Marcella Cruz (WFU) def. Lika Peresypkina (LOU) 6-4, 6-4
Nevena Carton (WFU) def. Germany Davis (LOU) 6-0, 6-1
Sankavi Gownder (WFU) def. Allie Gretkowski (LOU) 6-4, 6-3
Whitley Pate (WFU) def. Berta Miret (LOU) 6-3, 6-3

Order of Finish: 4, 2, 6, 1, 5, 3

From Head Coach Jeff Wyshner
"That was a very solid ACC opener for us. We faced a little adversity at first and second doubles, but responded well to take the doubles point. Everyone was focused in singles from the start. I was very impressed with Whitley stepping in to singles at the last second and then playing very well. It was a good win. Now on to the next one, which will be a big Sunday against Notre Dame. I hope people will come out again, like they did today. The home crowd really helps! "

Next Up
The Demon Deacons will remain at home for another ACC clash with No. 26 Notre Dame this Sunday.

The match against the Fighting Irish is slated for 12 p.m. at the Wake Forest Tennis Center.

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