Friday, May 3
Winston-Salem NC
5:00 p.m.
Wake Forest University
4
vs
0
South Carolina State
Wake Forest Sweeps South Carolina State; Advances to NCAA Round of 32
5/3/2024 9:34:00 PM | Men's Tennis
The Demon Deacons will face Arizona State on Saturday at 5 p.m., in the regional finale.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Behind a perfect 3-0 mark in singles action, the sixth-seeded Wake Forest men's tennis team swept South Carolina State, 4-0, to open NCAA Tournament play Friday evening at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.
With the victory, the Demon Deacons (28-6, 10-2 ACC) have now reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in each of the past nine seasons. Additionally, Friday improved Wake Forest to a perfect 4-0 against South Carolina State all-time.
After claiming the doubles point behind consecutive wins in the first and third slots, the Demon Deacons reeled off three-straight singles victories to secure their ninth sweep of the 2024 campaign.
Individually, the Deacs were led by No. 124 Luciano Tacchi as the Bella Vista, Argentina native earned a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win on court four, marking his fifth-consecutive dual singles victory. Of note, Tacchi has compiled a 19-9 singles ledger this season and has yet to drop a singles or doubles match since April 7.
The Demon Deacons will now move on to face Arizona State on Saturday at 5 p.m., in the regional finale. The winner of Saturday's contest will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals.
Winston-Salem Regional Schedule
Singles Results
1. #25 Filippo Moroni (WFU) vs. Novak Novakovic (SCSU) 3-6, 4-2, unfinished
2. #79 DK Suresh Ekambaram (WFU) vs. Mikalai Bankou (SCSU) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
3. Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. Aissa Benchakroun (SCSU) 6-4, 6-1
4. #124 Luciano Tacchi (WFU) def. Bejamin Niv (SCSU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Luca Pow (WFU) vs. Gabriel Johnson (SCSU) 6-1, 4-5, unfinished
6. Holden Koons (WFU) def. Ivan Pauliuchenka (SCSU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles Results
1. #2 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons (WFU) def. Aissa Benchakroun/Bejamin Niv (SCSU) 6-2
2. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WFU) vs. Novak Novakovic/Mikalai Bankou (SCSU) 5-2, unfinished
3. Luciano Tacchi/Luca Pow (WFU) def. Gabriel Johnson/Ivan Pauliuchenka (SCSU) 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,3,6)
From Coach Bresky
"This was a great start to the tournament. South Carolina State has had an excellent year winning their conference, so congratulations to them. We knew they'd come out ready, and I thought we had an excellent start to the doubles, which set the tone for the match. It was good to get off the court fairly early after the delay and the long match before us. We're now onto the next challenge. Arizona State had a great win today, and we're expecting a huge battle tomorrow." - Head coach Tony Bresky
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now move on to face Arizona State on Saturday at 5 p.m., in the regional finale. The winner of Saturday's contest will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals.
Follow the Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
With the victory, the Demon Deacons (28-6, 10-2 ACC) have now reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in each of the past nine seasons. Additionally, Friday improved Wake Forest to a perfect 4-0 against South Carolina State all-time.
After claiming the doubles point behind consecutive wins in the first and third slots, the Demon Deacons reeled off three-straight singles victories to secure their ninth sweep of the 2024 campaign.
Individually, the Deacs were led by No. 124 Luciano Tacchi as the Bella Vista, Argentina native earned a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win on court four, marking his fifth-consecutive dual singles victory. Of note, Tacchi has compiled a 19-9 singles ledger this season and has yet to drop a singles or doubles match since April 7.
The Demon Deacons will now move on to face Arizona State on Saturday at 5 p.m., in the regional finale. The winner of Saturday's contest will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals.
Winston-Salem Regional Schedule
- Saturday (May 4)
- Arizona State vs. Wake Forest (5 p.m.)
- Wake Forest got off to a strong start, going up a break on two courts early.
- No. 2 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons and Luciano Tacchi/Luca Pow both led, 3-0.
- Tacchi/Pow brought the Deacs within one match of clinching the doubles point with a 6-1 win in third doubles.
- They have now won 10-straight dual doubles matches.
- No. 2 Suresh Ekambaram/Koons then clinched the point with a 6-2 victory on court one.
- After taking a 1-0 lead into singles play, the Demon Deacons won the first set on five courts.
- No. 124 Luciano Tacchi quickly extended the Deacs' lead, earning a 6-0, 6-1 win on court four.
- Tacchi is currently on a five-match winning streak.
- Matthew Thomson then gave Wake Forest a commanding 3-0 advantage, claiming a 6-4, 6-1 victory in third singles.
- Holden Koons clinched the Deacs' ninth-straight first round win, securing a 6-3, 6-2 result on court six.
- Koons is a stellar 23-4 in dual singles play this season and has won three-straight matches.
- The Demon Deacons defeated the Bulldogs, 4-0, to advance to the NCAA Round of 32.
Singles Results
1. #25 Filippo Moroni (WFU) vs. Novak Novakovic (SCSU) 3-6, 4-2, unfinished
2. #79 DK Suresh Ekambaram (WFU) vs. Mikalai Bankou (SCSU) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
3. Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. Aissa Benchakroun (SCSU) 6-4, 6-1
4. #124 Luciano Tacchi (WFU) def. Bejamin Niv (SCSU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Luca Pow (WFU) vs. Gabriel Johnson (SCSU) 6-1, 4-5, unfinished
6. Holden Koons (WFU) def. Ivan Pauliuchenka (SCSU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles Results
1. #2 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons (WFU) def. Aissa Benchakroun/Bejamin Niv (SCSU) 6-2
2. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WFU) vs. Novak Novakovic/Mikalai Bankou (SCSU) 5-2, unfinished
3. Luciano Tacchi/Luca Pow (WFU) def. Gabriel Johnson/Ivan Pauliuchenka (SCSU) 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,3,6)
From Coach Bresky
"This was a great start to the tournament. South Carolina State has had an excellent year winning their conference, so congratulations to them. We knew they'd come out ready, and I thought we had an excellent start to the doubles, which set the tone for the match. It was good to get off the court fairly early after the delay and the long match before us. We're now onto the next challenge. Arizona State had a great win today, and we're expecting a huge battle tomorrow." - Head coach Tony Bresky
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now move on to face Arizona State on Saturday at 5 p.m., in the regional finale. The winner of Saturday's contest will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals.
Follow the Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
123
Novak Novakovic / 0 [SCSU]
620
34UF
#2 Singles Match
123
Mikalai Bankou / 0 [SCSU]
430
64UF
#3 Singles Match
12
Aissa Benchakroun / 0 [SCSU]
41
66
#4 Singles Match
12
Bejamin Niv / 0 [SCSU]
01
66
#5 Singles Match
123
Gabriel Johnson / 0 [SCSU]
150
64UF
#6 Singles Match
12
Ivan Pauliuchenka / 0 [SCSU]
32
66
Order of Finish:
4,3,6
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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