Wake Forest Athletics
Photo by: Helen McGinnis / Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Receive 2025 ITA Academic Team Recognition, Four Players Named Scholar-Athletes
7/21/2025 11:14:00 AM | Women's Tennis
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest women's tennis continues to be rewarded for its work in the classroom, as the program was named a recipient of the 2025 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Teams on Monday (July 21). Additionally, four Demon Deacons earned ITA Scholar-Athlete honors.
Nevena Carton, Sankavi Gownder, Kady Tannenbaum and Anna Zhang were all recognized as Scholar-Athletes. It was the second career nod for Gownder.
To be named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, one must meet the following requirements:
Nevena Carton | Jr. | Communication
Sankavi Gownder | So. | Finance
Kady Tannenbaum | Fr. | Undeclared
Anna Zhang | Gr. | General Management
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Nevena Carton, Sankavi Gownder, Kady Tannenbaum and Anna Zhang were all recognized as Scholar-Athletes. It was the second career nod for Gownder.
To be named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, one must meet the following requirements:
- Have a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year
- Be listed on the institutional eligibility form
- Have a team grade point average of 3.2 or above (on a 4.00 scale),
- All student-athletes included should be listed on the institutional eligibility form
- All varsity letter winners should be factored into the cumulative team GPA for the current academic year
Nevena Carton | Jr. | Communication
- Led the team with 13 singles victories during the spring after making the jump to the No. 1 spot within the Deacs' lineup
- Named ACC Player of the Week on March 11th after picking up back-to-back ranked victories over No. 22 Sara Ziodato of Virginia (6-4, 6-4) and No. 26 Ozlem Uslu of Virginia Tech (6-3, 6-2)
- Her victory over Ziodato also marked her first top-25 career victory
- Earned a ranked win over Navy's Emily Tannenbaum (7-5, 6-1)
- Recorded 12 doubles victories with freshman Kady Tannenbaum, with all 12 wins coming at the second doubles position
- Collected two victories over ranked doubles teams during the season
Sankavi Gownder | So. | Finance
- Primarily played at both No. 5 and No. 6 singles, recording 10 total solo wins
- Started the season on fire, going 10-2 in the first month of the spring
- One of just four Demon Deacons to notch double-digit singles victories during dual match play
Kady Tannenbaum | Fr. | Undeclared
- Ended her first season of collegiate tennis with the team lead for combined wins across the fall and spring (19)
- Finished the spring with 12 singles victories, which ranked second on the team
- Played primarily at third, fourth, and fifth singles across the season
- Opened the first month with a 6-3 record
- Ranked second on the team with 13 doubles victories during the spring season, with all 13 wins coming alongside Carton at the second doubles position
- Earned three doubles victories in conference play, happening against Notre Dame, Louisville, and Virginia Tech
- Also helped the Deacs secure the doubles point in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against Pepperdine
- Went 6-1 during the fall season, including winning her flight of the Debbie Southern Fall Classic to open the Deacs' slate.
- Advanced to the quarterfinals of the ITA Carolina Regional alongside junior Nevena Carton in mid-October
Anna Zhang | Gr. | General Management
- Combined for a team-high 18 doubles victories, partnering with junior Whitley Pate, across the fall and spring
- Led the Deacs with 16 doubles wins during the spring with Pate, including starting the season 14-0
- Recorded eight singles victories through the fall and spring seasons
- Went 3-2 during the fall, including a win during the ITA All-American Championships against LSU's Kenna Erickson (6-1, 6-3)
- Advanced to the Round of 16 during the ITA Carolina Regionals in mid-October
- Recorded five singles victories during the spring, with four coming during conference play
- Primarily played at third singles
- Picked up victories in matches against Notre Dame, Louisville, Virginia Tech, and California
- Clinched the match against SMU during Wake Forest's opening match of the ACC Tournament, defeating Ellie Pittman (6-2, 3-6, 6-3)
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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