The Wake Forest women’s tennis team bounced back with a commanding 4-1 win over Furman on Friday, improving their record to 6-2 for the season. Despite losing the doubles point for the first time this year, the Demon Deacons dominated in singles play, winning four consecutive matches to claim victory.
Strong Singles Performance Leads Comeback Victory
After a slow start in doubles, Wake Forest responded with dominant singles performances. Nevena Carton kicked off the comeback with a straight-set 6-2, 6-2 win over Sara Snyder at first singles.
Shortly after, freshman Kady Tannenbaum extended the lead with a 6-2, 6-3 victory against Macy Hitchcock at fifth singles.
The match was secured when Whitley Pate and Sankavi Gownder won their respective singles matches simultaneously. Pate defeated Ellie Schulson at fourth singles (6-2, 6-3), while Gownder closed out the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Grace Thomas at sixth singles.
Key Highlights from the Match
- Nevena Carton won convincingly at first singles, leveling the match at 1-1.
- Kady Tannenbaum gave Wake Forest the lead with a straight-set win at fifth singles.
- Whitley Pate and Sankavi Gownder clinched the victory with wins at fourth and sixth singles, respectively.
- Gownder and Tannenbaum now lead the team with six singles victories this season.
- Pate improved to 5-1, while Carton moved up to 5-2 for the season.
Match Results
Singles Results:
- Nevena Carton (WF) def. Sara Snyder (Furman) 6-2, 6-2
- No. 73 Krystal Blanch (WF) vs. Jess Dawson (Furman) 6-2, 3-6, 0-0 UF
- Anna Zhang (WF) vs. Marissa Pennings (Furman) 6-0, 5-5 UF
- Whitley Pate (WF) def. Ellie Schulson (Furman) 6-2, 6-3
- Kady Tannenbaum (WF) def. Macy Hitchcock (Furman) 6-2, 6-3
- Sankavi Gownder (WF) def. Grace Thomas (Furman) 6-3, 6-2
🔹 Order of Finish: 1, 5, 4, 6
Doubles Results:
- Schulson/Snyder (Furman) def. Blanch/Mills (WF) 6-3
- Dawson/Hitchcock (Furman) def. No. 36 Carton/Tannenbaum (WF) 6-3
- Zhang/Pate (WF) vs. Griffith/Thomas (Furman) 5-3 UF
🔹 Order of Finish: 1, 2
Coach Wyshner’s Reaction
Head coach Jeff Wyshner praised the team’s ability to adapt and fight back after losing the doubles point.
“That was a really good performance today. I was impressed with our maturity. It was our first match outside and also the first time we lost the doubles point, but we responded well in singles. We keep learning each time we step on the court, and I’m looking forward to our next match on Sunday!”
The Wake Forest women’s tennis team showcased resilience by overcoming an early deficit to claim a 4-1 victory over Furman. With standout performances from Carton, Tannenbaum, Pate, and Gownder, the Demon Deacons continue to gain momentum this season. With their next match on Sunday, the team will look to build on this strong performance and continue their winning streak.
