
No. 6 Wake Forest Takes Down No. 16 NC State in Thriller; Sweeps Boston College
3/29/2024 9:47:00 PM | Men's Tennis
The Demon Deacons have now won 12-consecutive matches, dating back to March 1.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Behind a perfect 4-0 mark in doubles play and several singles victories, the No. 6-ranked Wake Forest men's tennis team earned a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) wins over No. 16 NC State (4-2) and Boston College (4-0) Friday evening at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.
Friday's pair of victories extended the Demon Deacons' (22-4, 7-1 ACC) current winning streak to 12, marking the Deacs' longest streak since 2019 when they reeled off 19 straight before falling in the national championship.
With the win over No. 16 NC State (12-5, 5-2 ACC), Wake Forest has now won nine of its last 10 meetings against the Wolfpack. Of note, the Demon Deacons are now 22-4 against schools in the state of North Carolina since the start of the 2022 campaign.
Highlighted by No. 54 DK Suresh Ekambaram's thrilling come-from-behind win over No. 67 Braden Shick, Wake Forest secured their fifth Big Four victory since 2022, defeating the Wolfpack in the first leg of Friday's double-header.
Less than an hour later, the Demon Deacons knocked off Boston College (4-10, 0-7 ACC), becoming the first ACC team this season to notch two wins over conference opponents in the same day.
Of note, freshman Luca Pow and graduate student Holden Koons are now a combined 37-5 in dual singles matches this season.
Match #1 - No. 16 NC State
How It Happened
Singles Results
1. #54 DK Suresh Ekambaram (WFU) def. #67 Braden Shick (NCSU) 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 2. #46 Robin Catry (NCSU) def. Luciano Tacchi (WFU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Fons Van Sambeek (NCSU) def. #38 Filippo Moroni (WFU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. #103 Luca Staeheli (NCSU) 6-4, 7-5
5. Luca Pow (WFU) def. Joseph Wayand (NCSU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Holden Koons (WFU) vs. Jakub Katuch (NCSU) 7-6 (9-7), 5-7, 1-1, unfinished
Doubles Results
1. #1 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons (WFU) def. #78 Robin Catry/Luca Staeheli (NCSU) 6-2
2. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. #36 Martin Borisiouk/Joseph Wayand (NCSU) 6-4
3. Luciano Tacchi/Luca Pow (WFU) vs. Braden Shick/Fons Van Sambeek (NCSU) 5-5, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,3,2,4,1)
Match #2 - Boston College
How It Happened
Singles Results
1. #54 DK Suresh Ekambaram (WFU) vs. Juan Jose Bianchi (BC) 6-2, 4-3, unfinished
2. #38 Filippo Moroni (WFU) vs. Caleb Saltz (BC) 6-4, 5-4, unfinished
3. Luciano Tacchi (WFU) def. Jake Vassel (BC) 6-1, 6-2
4. Luca Pow (WFU) vs. Will Kasten (BC) 6-3, 4-2, unfinished
5. Holden Koons (WFU) def. Matthew Overvelde (BC) 6-0, 6-1
6. Saud Alhogbani (WFU) def. Connor McDonald (BC) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Results
1. #1 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons (WFU) def. #10 Juan Jose Bianchi/Jake Vassel (BC) 6-4
2. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. Caleb Saltz/Matt Campbell (BC) 6-0
3. Luca Pow/Luciano Tacchi (WFU) vs. Will Kasten/Matthew Overvelde (BC) 5-5, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,6,3)
From Coach Bresky
"Today was a really good day. NC State is a quality team and both of us had to deal with the conditions. It was extremely windy and tough to play in. It wasn't necessarily the prettiest tennis but I thought both teams competed really hard. It was good to get that first win and we built on that momentum for the afternoon match against Boston College. We're excited to get two more ACC wins and we're looking forward to next weekend." - Head coach Tony Bresky
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now travel for a pair of matches against No. 15 Florida State (April 5) and No. 50 Miami (April 7).
Follow the Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Friday's pair of victories extended the Demon Deacons' (22-4, 7-1 ACC) current winning streak to 12, marking the Deacs' longest streak since 2019 when they reeled off 19 straight before falling in the national championship.
With the win over No. 16 NC State (12-5, 5-2 ACC), Wake Forest has now won nine of its last 10 meetings against the Wolfpack. Of note, the Demon Deacons are now 22-4 against schools in the state of North Carolina since the start of the 2022 campaign.
Highlighted by No. 54 DK Suresh Ekambaram's thrilling come-from-behind win over No. 67 Braden Shick, Wake Forest secured their fifth Big Four victory since 2022, defeating the Wolfpack in the first leg of Friday's double-header.
Less than an hour later, the Demon Deacons knocked off Boston College (4-10, 0-7 ACC), becoming the first ACC team this season to notch two wins over conference opponents in the same day.
Of note, freshman Luca Pow and graduate student Holden Koons are now a combined 37-5 in dual singles matches this season.
Match #1 - No. 16 NC State
How It Happened
- Wake Forest came out strong in doubles play, leading on courts one and two, respectively.
- No. 1 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons earned their seventh ranked doubles win of the season, knocking off No. 78 Robin Catry/Luca Staeheli on court one.
- Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson then secured the doubles point for Wake Forest, defeating No. 36 Martin Borisiouk/Joseph Wayand, 6-4.
- Moroni/Thomson have now won four-consecutive doubles matches.
- The Demon Deacons led, 1-0, going into singles play.
- Head coach Tony Bresky made a slight adjustment to Wake Forest's singles lineup, moving Luciano Tacchi to the second position.
- 1) No. 54 DK Suresh Ekambaram
- 2) Luciano Tacchi
- 3) No. 38 Filippo Moroni
- 4) Matthew Thomson
- 5) Luca Pow
- 6) Holden Koons
- NC State got off to a solid start in singles action, winning the opening set on three courts.
- After going down a break early, Luca Pow stormed back to defeat Joseph Wayand, giving the Demon Deacons a 2-0 advantage.
- The Wolfpack responded with consecutive wins in second and third singles to even the ledger.
- Matthew Thomson then earned a 6-4, 7-5 victory on court four, giving the Deacs a 3-2 lead with just two courts remaining.
- After dropping a tightly-contested first set, No. 54 DK Suresh Ekambaram stormed back to force a deciding set on court one.
- Suresh Ekambaram went on to secure a 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 win in first singles to clinch the match.
- No. 6 Wake Forest defeated No. 16 NC State, 4-2.
Singles Results
1. #54 DK Suresh Ekambaram (WFU) def. #67 Braden Shick (NCSU) 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 2. #46 Robin Catry (NCSU) def. Luciano Tacchi (WFU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Fons Van Sambeek (NCSU) def. #38 Filippo Moroni (WFU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. #103 Luca Staeheli (NCSU) 6-4, 7-5
5. Luca Pow (WFU) def. Joseph Wayand (NCSU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Holden Koons (WFU) vs. Jakub Katuch (NCSU) 7-6 (9-7), 5-7, 1-1, unfinished
Doubles Results
1. #1 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons (WFU) def. #78 Robin Catry/Luca Staeheli (NCSU) 6-2
2. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. #36 Martin Borisiouk/Joseph Wayand (NCSU) 6-4
3. Luciano Tacchi/Luca Pow (WFU) vs. Braden Shick/Fons Van Sambeek (NCSU) 5-5, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,3,2,4,1)
Match #2 - Boston College
How It Happened
- Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson quickly earned a 6-0 victory over Caleb Saltz/Matt Campbell on court two, bringing the Demon Deacons just one doubles match away from taking a 1-0 lead.
- Minutes later, No. 1 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons defeated No. 10 Juan Jose Bianchi/Jake Vassel on court one to secure the doubles point.
- Suresh Ekambaram/Koons improved to 16-1 in dual doubles matches this season.
- The pairing has now won four-straight.
- Suresh Ekambaram/Koons improved to 16-1 in dual doubles matches this season.
- The Deacs took a 1-0 lead into singles play.
- Wake Forest carried its momentum into singles, winning the first set on all six courts.
- Holden Koons gave the Deacs a 2-0 lead, defeating Matthew Overvelde in straight sets, while only dropping one game.
- Saud Alhogbani then knocked off Connor McDonald (6-1, 6-1) to extend the Demon Deacons' lead.
- The win marked Alhogbani's first ACC win of the season.
- Minutes later, Luciano Tacchi clinched Wake Forest's second victory of the day, downing Jake Vasse on court three.
- Tacchi improved to 14-7 in dual singles matches this season.
- The Demon Deacons swept the Eagles, 4-0.
Singles Results
1. #54 DK Suresh Ekambaram (WFU) vs. Juan Jose Bianchi (BC) 6-2, 4-3, unfinished
2. #38 Filippo Moroni (WFU) vs. Caleb Saltz (BC) 6-4, 5-4, unfinished
3. Luciano Tacchi (WFU) def. Jake Vassel (BC) 6-1, 6-2
4. Luca Pow (WFU) vs. Will Kasten (BC) 6-3, 4-2, unfinished
5. Holden Koons (WFU) def. Matthew Overvelde (BC) 6-0, 6-1
6. Saud Alhogbani (WFU) def. Connor McDonald (BC) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Results
1. #1 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons (WFU) def. #10 Juan Jose Bianchi/Jake Vassel (BC) 6-4
2. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. Caleb Saltz/Matt Campbell (BC) 6-0
3. Luca Pow/Luciano Tacchi (WFU) vs. Will Kasten/Matthew Overvelde (BC) 5-5, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,6,3)
From Coach Bresky
"Today was a really good day. NC State is a quality team and both of us had to deal with the conditions. It was extremely windy and tough to play in. It wasn't necessarily the prettiest tennis but I thought both teams competed really hard. It was good to get that first win and we built on that momentum for the afternoon match against Boston College. We're excited to get two more ACC wins and we're looking forward to next weekend." - Head coach Tony Bresky
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now travel for a pair of matches against No. 15 Florida State (April 5) and No. 50 Miami (April 7).
Follow the Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2
Order of Finish:
5,3,2,4,1
Players Mentioned
Football Media Availability (9/18/25)
Thursday, September 18
Matt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
Wednesday, September 10
Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
Wednesday, September 10
Football Media Availability (9/9/25)
Wednesday, September 10