Wednesday, April 16
Cary, N.C.
12:30 p.m.
Wake Forest University
4
vs
2
SMU
Wake Forest Defeats SMU in Thriller, Advances to Third Round of 2025 ACC Women’s Tennis Championships
4/16/2025 4:39:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Deacs will face off against No. 25 and sixth-seeded Notre Dame after coming away with a 4-2 victory over the Mustangs.
CARY, N.C. – Playing in a thrilling, back-and-forth contest during the second round of the 2025 ACC Women's Tennis Championships, the No. 41 Wake Forest women's tennis came away with a 4-2 victory over the No. 11-seed SMU Mustangs on Wednesday afternoon at the Cary Tennis Park.
The Demon Deacons (15-12, 3-9 ACC) opened up the match on fire as they took the doubles point to secure a 1-0 lead. Graduate student Anna Zhang and junior Whitley Pate gave Wake Forest the early advantage in the doubles match, defeating Stavropoulos/Schefke, 6-4, at third doubles. Zhang and Pate have been the best doubles partnership for the Deacs this season, having amassed a 15-2 record during the regular season.
After SMU (12-14, 4-8 ACC) tied the doubles match with a win at second doubles, graduate student Makayla Mills and redshirt sophomore Krystal Blanch clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 win over Llewellyn/McGinley at first doubles. No. 79 Blanch/Mills claimed the final three points of the match to secure the victory, including a critical service point at 5-4 to stay alive in the match.
The Mustangs would claim the lead following victories at second and fourth singles before freshman Kady Tannenbaum tied the match with a straight-set win at fifth singles against Kayla Schefke (7-6 (7-0), 6-3).
Wake Forest clinched the victory thanks to back-to-back, three-set victories from Zhang and junior Nevena Carton. After dropping the first set to Sophie Llewellyn, Carton responded with two dominant sets to claim the victory at first singles, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1. Zhang clinched the victory for the Demon Deacons as the McKinney, Texas, native defeated Ellie Pittman at third singles (6-2, 3-6, 6-3).
The victory over SMU marked the Demon Deacons' first victory over the Mustangs since the 2020 season, with the Deacs winning each of the last three matchups in the series. The win also marked Wake Forest's first win in the ACC Tournament since defeating Notre Dame in the 2023 rendition of the tournament, 4-2.
The Demon Deacons will look to continue their run in the ACC Tournament against No. 25 and sixth-seeded Notre Dame tomorrow afternoon, with first serve scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
How It Happened
Singles Results
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5, 1, 3
Doubles Results
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
From Coach Wyshner
"What a gritty performance from the team. It was a great doubles point. Both teams played well and it could have gone either way. Credit to Makayla [Mills] and Krystal [Blanch] for a great finish to that match after having so many break points during the set. We were down early in singles but we really responded. Kady [Tannenbaum] got that first set and got to the finish line quickly. Nevena [Carton] was amazing after dropping the first set and Anna [Zhang] got to clinch the match with a hard fought third set against one of their really good seniors. It was a big win and it may be the difference between us playing in May or not. I'm really proud of this group. They've come through so much this year and I'm excited they get to play again tomorrow." - head coach Jeff Wyshner
Up Next
The Demon Deacons continue their ACC Tournament run tomorrow afternoon as they take on No. 25 and sixth-seeded Notre Dame in the third round. First serve is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
The Demon Deacons (15-12, 3-9 ACC) opened up the match on fire as they took the doubles point to secure a 1-0 lead. Graduate student Anna Zhang and junior Whitley Pate gave Wake Forest the early advantage in the doubles match, defeating Stavropoulos/Schefke, 6-4, at third doubles. Zhang and Pate have been the best doubles partnership for the Deacs this season, having amassed a 15-2 record during the regular season.
After SMU (12-14, 4-8 ACC) tied the doubles match with a win at second doubles, graduate student Makayla Mills and redshirt sophomore Krystal Blanch clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 win over Llewellyn/McGinley at first doubles. No. 79 Blanch/Mills claimed the final three points of the match to secure the victory, including a critical service point at 5-4 to stay alive in the match.
The Mustangs would claim the lead following victories at second and fourth singles before freshman Kady Tannenbaum tied the match with a straight-set win at fifth singles against Kayla Schefke (7-6 (7-0), 6-3).
Wake Forest clinched the victory thanks to back-to-back, three-set victories from Zhang and junior Nevena Carton. After dropping the first set to Sophie Llewellyn, Carton responded with two dominant sets to claim the victory at first singles, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1. Zhang clinched the victory for the Demon Deacons as the McKinney, Texas, native defeated Ellie Pittman at third singles (6-2, 3-6, 6-3).
The victory over SMU marked the Demon Deacons' first victory over the Mustangs since the 2020 season, with the Deacs winning each of the last three matchups in the series. The win also marked Wake Forest's first win in the ACC Tournament since defeating Notre Dame in the 2023 rendition of the tournament, 4-2.
The Demon Deacons will look to continue their run in the ACC Tournament against No. 25 and sixth-seeded Notre Dame tomorrow afternoon, with first serve scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
How It Happened
- Zhang and Pate jumped to a 2-1 lead at third doubles to open the doubles point for Wake Forest.
- Blanch and Mills tied their match at 3-3 on court one following a great backhand finish from Blanch.
- Meanwhile, Zhang and Pate forced a break to take a 4-3 lead on court three.
- Blanch and Mills continued to battle as the duo fought through a match point to tie the match at 5-5.
- Zhang/Pate gave the Demon Deacons the lead in the doubles match with a 6-4 win over Stavropoulos/Schefke.
- After SMU tied the doubles match, Blanch/Mills clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 victory against Llewellyn/McGinley at first doubles.
- The Mustangs took an early advantage by taking the first set on courts one, two, and four.
- Zhang picked up the first set on court three in convincing fashion, 6-2.
- Tannenbaum swept the seventh-point tiebreaker to take the first set on court five.
- Carton opened the second set of her match on court one on fire, taking the first three games.
- SMU took the first set on court six.
- The Mustangs tied the match following a win at fourth singles.
- Carton cruised to a 6-1 second set win to force a deciding set on court one.
- After SMU took the lead with a win at second singles, the Demon Deacons tied the match back up with a win by Tannenbaum against Kayla Schefke at fifth singles (7-6, 6-3).
- Gownder forced a third set after taking the second set, 6-4.
- Wake Forest reclaimed the 3-2 lead as Carton completed her comeback against Sophie Llewellyn at first singles in a dominant display (3-6, 6-1, 6-1).
- Zhang clinched the 4-2 victory for the Deacs, defeating Ellie Pittman in a three-set thriller at third singles, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Singles Results
- No. 82 Nevena Carton (WF) def. Sophie Llewellyn (SMU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
- Drew Morris (SMU) def. Krystal Blanch (WF) 6-1, 7-6 (7-2)
- Anna Zhang (WF) def. Ellie Pittman (SMU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
- Arianna Stavropoulos (SMU) def. Whitley Pate (WF) 6-0, 7-5
- Kady Tannenbaum (WF) def. Kayla Schefke (SMU) 7-6 (7-0), 6-3
- Sankavi Gownder (WF) vs. Carolina McGinley (SMU) 5-7, 6-4, 3-1 UF
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5, 1, 3
Doubles Results
- No. 79 Blanch/Mills (WF) def. Llewellyn/McGinley (SMU) 7-5
- Morris/Pittman (SMU) def. No. 88 Carton/Tannenbaum (WF) 6-4
- Zhang/Pate (WF) def. Stavropoulos/Schefke (SMU) 6-4
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
From Coach Wyshner
"What a gritty performance from the team. It was a great doubles point. Both teams played well and it could have gone either way. Credit to Makayla [Mills] and Krystal [Blanch] for a great finish to that match after having so many break points during the set. We were down early in singles but we really responded. Kady [Tannenbaum] got that first set and got to the finish line quickly. Nevena [Carton] was amazing after dropping the first set and Anna [Zhang] got to clinch the match with a hard fought third set against one of their really good seniors. It was a big win and it may be the difference between us playing in May or not. I'm really proud of this group. They've come through so much this year and I'm excited they get to play again tomorrow." - head coach Jeff Wyshner
Up Next
The Demon Deacons continue their ACC Tournament run tomorrow afternoon as they take on No. 25 and sixth-seeded Notre Dame in the third round. First serve is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
Follow the Deacs
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | GoDeacs.com
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
#1 Singles Match
123
366
Sophie Llewellyn / 0 [SMU]
611
#2 Singles Match
12
16
Drew Morris / 0 [SMU]
67
#3 Singles Match
123
636
Ellie Pittman / 0 [SMU]
263
#4 Singles Match
12
05
Arianna Stavropoulos / 0 [SMU]
67
#5 Singles Match
12
76
Kayla Schefke / 0 [SMU]
63
#6 Singles Match
1234
5630
Caroline McGinley / 0 [SMU]
741UF
Order of Finish:
4,2,5,1,3
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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