Photo by: Seth Seebaugh
Deacs Unveil 2024 Fall Schedule
8/23/2024 10:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Several different qualifying events headline Wake Forest women’s tennis’ fall slate.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – A new semester of opportunities is incoming for Wake Forest women's tennis, as head coach Jeff Wyshner announced the team's 2024 fall schedule on Friday, Aug. 23.
"I am really looking forward to getting the team back and playing this fall," said Coach Wyshner. "The fall schedule will be a little different with NCAA Individuals now being in November. Some of our group will be targeting qualifying opportunities for that, while everyone will be using the extra time in the fall for improvement alongside two or three competitive opportunities."
For the eighth consecutive year, the Demon Deacons will partake in Furman University's annual Debbie Southern Fall Classic (Sept. 13-15), as the event reaches its 37th edition. Wake Forest was one of 14 schools to compete back in fall 2023.
The Deacs' second showing of the semester takes them to nearby Cary for the 2024 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American Championships. Taking place from Sept. 21-29, a draw will unfold of pre-qualifying singles (128), qualifying singles (64), main draw singles (64) pre-qualifying doubles (32), qualifying doubles (32) and main draw doubles (32). From this, 10 individuals will be able to qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship (eight main draw quarterfinalists and two feed-in consolation finalists). In addition, four doubles teams will qualify for the NCAA Doubles Championship through the All-American Championships (four main draw semifinalists).
Over two weeks of break from competition will then occur for Wake Forest before the team gets going again in mid-October – making another in-state trip for the 2024 ITA Carolina Regional (Oct. 17-21), hosted by the University of North Carolina. With a 64-player main draw for singles and 32 for doubles, there will again be the opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships. Selection criteria and acceptable draw size variations for each of the 2024 Men's and Women's Regional Championships will be released at a later date.
The ITA Sectional Championships (Nov. 7-10), again being hosted by the North Carolina Tar Heels, will provide the final opportunity for players to qualify for the NCAA Individual Championships. Only those in singles and doubles who have made notable, deep runs at the ITA All-American or Regional Championships will be eligible for participation. A draw size of 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams will compose the event. Players who earn entry into the NCAA Individual Championships will travel to Waco, Texas for the event, held from Nov. 19-24.
Wake Forest Women's Tennis Fall 2024 Schedule
Six players return for Wake Forest this year: Krystal Blanch, Nevena Carton, Sankavi Gownder, Jingyi Li, Aubrey Nisbet and Whitley Pate. Additionally, the program has added a pair of graduate transfers, Makayla Mills (University of Kentucky) and Anna Zhang (Columbia University), as well as a pair of true freshmen – Brianna Baldi and Kady Tannenbaum. The program looks to continue building off of a solid, collective spring showing:
Wake Forest Women's Tennis Spring 2024 Highlights
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"I am really looking forward to getting the team back and playing this fall," said Coach Wyshner. "The fall schedule will be a little different with NCAA Individuals now being in November. Some of our group will be targeting qualifying opportunities for that, while everyone will be using the extra time in the fall for improvement alongside two or three competitive opportunities."
For the eighth consecutive year, the Demon Deacons will partake in Furman University's annual Debbie Southern Fall Classic (Sept. 13-15), as the event reaches its 37th edition. Wake Forest was one of 14 schools to compete back in fall 2023.
The Deacs' second showing of the semester takes them to nearby Cary for the 2024 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American Championships. Taking place from Sept. 21-29, a draw will unfold of pre-qualifying singles (128), qualifying singles (64), main draw singles (64) pre-qualifying doubles (32), qualifying doubles (32) and main draw doubles (32). From this, 10 individuals will be able to qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship (eight main draw quarterfinalists and two feed-in consolation finalists). In addition, four doubles teams will qualify for the NCAA Doubles Championship through the All-American Championships (four main draw semifinalists).
Over two weeks of break from competition will then occur for Wake Forest before the team gets going again in mid-October – making another in-state trip for the 2024 ITA Carolina Regional (Oct. 17-21), hosted by the University of North Carolina. With a 64-player main draw for singles and 32 for doubles, there will again be the opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships. Selection criteria and acceptable draw size variations for each of the 2024 Men's and Women's Regional Championships will be released at a later date.
The ITA Sectional Championships (Nov. 7-10), again being hosted by the North Carolina Tar Heels, will provide the final opportunity for players to qualify for the NCAA Individual Championships. Only those in singles and doubles who have made notable, deep runs at the ITA All-American or Regional Championships will be eligible for participation. A draw size of 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams will compose the event. Players who earn entry into the NCAA Individual Championships will travel to Waco, Texas for the event, held from Nov. 19-24.
Wake Forest Women's Tennis Fall 2024 Schedule
| Event | Dates | Location |
| Debbie Southern Fall Classic | Sept. 13-15 | Greenville, S.C. |
| ITA All-American Championships | Sept. 21-29 | Cary, N.C. |
| ITA Carolina Regional | Oct. 17-21 | Chapel Hill, N.C. |
| ITA Sectional Championships | Nov. 7-10 | Chapel Hill, N.C. |
| NCAA Individual Championships | Nov. 19-24 | Waco, Texas |
Six players return for Wake Forest this year: Krystal Blanch, Nevena Carton, Sankavi Gownder, Jingyi Li, Aubrey Nisbet and Whitley Pate. Additionally, the program has added a pair of graduate transfers, Makayla Mills (University of Kentucky) and Anna Zhang (Columbia University), as well as a pair of true freshmen – Brianna Baldi and Kady Tannenbaum. The program looks to continue building off of a solid, collective spring showing:
Wake Forest Women's Tennis Spring 2024 Highlights
- The Deacs compiled 15 wins throughout the spring and have now earned double-digit victories in 10 consecutive seasons (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season).
- Seven of the 15 victories happened over ranked teams, with three coming against teams inside the top 30.
- Wake Forest has now made eight consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances under head coach Jeff Wyshner. The program is one of only 21 schools to accomplish this feat, as well as one of six Atlantic Coast Conference institutions to do so.
- Individually, the Deacons were led by senior captain Casie Wooten, who finished with a team-best 15-wins in dual play (22 overall) and advanced to the NCAA Singles Championships for a second straight year.
- The Torrance, California native racked up seven victories over ranked opponents, including the highest ranked win of her career with a three-set win over South Carolina's No. 3 Ayana Akli on Feb. 17.
- In doubles, Wake Forest once again held one of the top pairings in the country, with senior Brooke Killingsworth and graduate student newcomer Marcella Cruz teaming up for a lone season together.
- The duo earned 12 wins in first doubles during the spring, which also helped Wake Forest secure 12 doubles points.
- Killingsworth not only got it done in doubles, but she also had the most successful singles campaign of her career, racking up 12 solo wins while competing at the No. 2 spot within the Deacs' lineup.
- She picked up four ranked victories for the spring, including the highest ranked win of her career over No. 37 Abigail Rencheli of NC State on March 8.
- Sankavi Gownder enjoyed a stellar freshman year with the Old Gold & Black, finishing second on the roster in dual play with 14 wins, including her first career ranked victory – downing Tennessee's Eleonora Molinaro (No. 100).
- In total, the Deacons had six players record double-digit singles victories in dual play during spring 2024.
- Casie Wooten - 15 wins
- Sankavi Gownder - 14 wins
- Brooke Killingsworth - 12 wins
- Whitley Pate - 10 wins
- Marcella Cruz - 10 wins
- Nevena Carton - 10 wins
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