Wake Forest Women’s Tennis Claims 2023 Blue Gray Classic Championship

| Box Score 2

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – For the second time in four years, the Wake Forest women’s tennis team has claimed the Blue Gray Classic championship, as the Demon Deacons defeated No. 47 Texas Tech 4-2 in the finals on Saturday evening. 

It was the second ranked victory on the day for the Deacs, as they knocked off No. 32 Illinois 4-1 in the semifinals. Additionally, Wake Forest made its fifth consecutive championship appearance in the Blue Gray Classic. In 2020, the Deacs took down No. 5 Princeton in the championship. 

Helping secure the doubles point over Texas Tech, Anna Brylin and Brooke Killingsworth became the sixth Wake Forest pair all-time to reach 50 career wins. Then in singles action, Brylin moved into a tie for the 10th-most singles wins in program history (86) alongside Emma Davis (2015-19). Battles throughout highlighted the championship bout before Nevena Carton secured the victory by defeating Texas Tech’s Metka Komac 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. 

After taking the doubles point against No. 32 Illinois yesterday evening (Feb. 24), Wake Forest kept its momentum going in singles competition. The Deacs knocked off the Fighting Illini in a 4-1 decision for its first ranked match victory of 2023. Brylin shined in another straight-sets victory for her second of the year over a ranked opponent. The team captain additionally has won a team-best 10 solo matches this season.

Singles – How it Happened (vs. No. 32 Illinois – Semifinals)

• Enduring a four-hour wait due to a rain delay, Wake Forest was able to finally take the courts for singles against Illinois once the early afternoon arrived. 

• Three opening games all went the way of Whitley Pate in her first set.

• Anna Brylin took three of four games for a small advantage of 4-3 in second singles.

• Brooke Killingsworth quickly got into a groove, winning four of her first five games on court three.

• Brylin finished out another pair of games to become the first individual to capture a first-set victory (6-3).

• Killingsworth’s court soon became tied up at 5-5 in set one.

• Nevena Carton showed strong focus on her way to a 6-4 finish in the first frame.

  
  
  

• Killingsworth also stayed poised, claiming two more games for a 7-5 first-set win.

  
  
  

• Brylin made a strong push through her second set, ultimately securing her tenth singles…