Deacons Sweep Tulsa, Win in Doubles Over Nationally-Ranked Illinois During Day One of Blue Gray Classic

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Looking to start  on a strong note in the 75th annual Blue Gray National Tennis Classic, Wake Forest women’s tennis (6-5, 0-1) did just that on Friday (Feb. 24). After a weather delay led to the cancellation of doubles against the University of Tulsa (7-4, 1-0), the Demon Deacons routed the Golden Hurricanes in singles, leading to a 4-0 victory.

The sweep was Wake Forest’s third of the 2023 spring campaign.

Later in the evening, Wake Forest again took the courts to face No. 32 Illinois in the semifinal round. The Deacs continued to display some serious grit, finishing on top in doubles for the match’s opening point. The freshman duo of Nevena Carton/Whitley Pate came up clutch to clinch the decision in an up-for-grabs, tiebreaker fashion. Additionally, Mia Ahmad/Casie Wooten won their fifth straight doubles showing.

The day’s action then concluded for Wake Forest, as singles competition against Illinois is scheduled to begin on Saturday morning (Feb. 25) at 9 a.m. ET.

 

Singles – How it Happened (vs. Tulsa)

• After a 90-minute weather delay, courts began to open up, with singles play firstly taking place.

• Fresh off a major ranked individual victory, Anna Brylin grabbed her opening pair of games in second singles.

• Nevena Carton, Maddie Lynch, and Whitley Pate each held a narrow 3-2 advantage through the first five games in their respective first sets.

  
  
  

• Lynch quickly took three games in a row, cruising to a 6-2 first-set win.

  
  
  

• Carton became the second Deac to win a set (6-3), followed by Brooke Killingsworth on a 7-5 clip.

• Hanging on through rallies, Pate escaped her first frame on a tiebreaker finish.

  
  
  

• Brylin and Carton jumped out in set two with major leads each before the two ultimately completed sweeps, giving Wake Forest a 2-0 lead in the match.

• In first singles, a motivated Casie Wooten refused to let up a game during second-set action, forcing a third period (3-6, 6-0).

• Pate enjoyed a likewise dominance, sweeping her foe in the second to up the Deacon lead to 3-0.

• Killingsworth kept competitive in her second frame (3-2).

• Lynch put an end to things with a comfortable straight-sets performance, giving Wake Forest the match clinch.

• The Deacs swept Tulsa, 4-0.

Singles Results (vs. Tulsa):

1. No. 39