No. 39 Wake Forest Set to Continue Road Stretch Against Navy and William & Mary

ANNAPOLIS, MD. & WILLIAMSBURG, VA. — The No. 39 Wake Forest women’s tennis team continues its extended road trip with two non-conference matchups this weekend. The Demon Deacons will face Navy for the first time ever on Friday, February 21, at 1 p.m. before traveling to William & Mary on Sunday, February 23, at 11 a.m.

Fans can watch Friday’s match against Navy via Track Tennis, while Sunday’s match against William & Mary will be available through Playsight. Live scoring for both events will be updated throughout each match.

Weekend Match Schedule

Friday, Feb. 21 – 1:00 p.m. ET

Wake Forest vs. Navy | Annapolis, MD

Sunday, Feb. 23 – 11:00 a.m. ET

Wake Forest vs. William & Mary | Williamsburg, VA

Series History

Versus Navy

• First-Ever Meeting
• The two programs will face off for the first time in program history.

Versus William & Mary

• Wake Forest Leads: 23-17
• Last Match: Feb. 2, 2020
• Result: Wake Forest won 6-1

Recent Results: Wake Forest’s Doubleheader Split

Wake Forest began their six-match road stretch last weekend with mixed results:

• Loss vs. South Carolina (4-1):
  • Only point secured in doubles, with wins from Makayla Mills/Krystal Blanch and Anna Zhang/Whitley Pate.
• Win vs. Western Carolina (4-0):
  • Dominant doubles performances by Nevena Carton/Kady Tannenbaum and Zhang/Pate.
  • Singles victories from Sankavi Gownder, Brianna Baldi, and Jingyi Li sealed the sweep.

Key Players to Watch for Wake Forest

Doubles Dominance

The Deacs have posted an impressive 20-3 record in doubles play through nine matches this season:

• Anna Zhang / Whitley Pate: 8-0
• Nevena Carton / Kady Tannenbaum: 7-2
• #75 Krystal Blanch / Makayla Mills: 5-1

Singles Standouts

• Sankavi Gownder: 8-2 overall
• Brianna Baldi: 7-2 in her freshman season
• Whitley Pate: 6-2
• Kady Tannenbaum: 6-3
• Nevena Carton: 5-2 (currently playing at the No. 1 singles position)

Wake Forest’s ITA Rankings Update

The Demon Deacons moved up to No. 39 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings. With an 8-3 record this season, Wake Forest remains one of 11 ACC teams ranked in the nation’s top 50.

ACC Teams in the Top-50:

1. Virginia – No. 2
2. North Carolina – No. 3
3. Duke – No. 10
4. NC State – No. 14
5. Clemson – No. 19
6. Notre Dame – No. 22
7. Virginia Tech – No. 27
8. Syracuse – No. 32
9. Georgia Tech – No. 33
10. Stanford – No. 34
11. Wake Forest – No. 39

Individual Rankings:

• #95 Krystal Blanch (Singles)
• #75 Blanch / Mills (Doubles)

Coach Jeff Wyshner Reaches 195 Career Wins

Head coach Jeff Wyshner continues to cement his legacy as the winningest coach in Wake Forest women’s tennis history:

• Career Record: 195-182
• NCAA Tournament Appearances: 8 consecutive seasons
• All-Americans Produced: 3 during his 15-year tenure

Scouting the Opposition

Navy Midshipmen (5-6)

• Currently on a 2-match win streak after victories over Tampa and Air Force.
• Emily Tannenbaum (Older sister of Wake Forest’s Kady Tannenbaum):
  • Ranked No. 92 nationally in singles
  • Holds a 6-2 singles record (mostly at No. 1 position)
• Top Doubles Pair:
  • Olivia Fermo / Emma Gu: 3-0 in dual matches

William & Mary Tribe (5-1)

• Coming off consecutive wins over George Washington and UNC Wilmington.
• Hedda Gurholt and Francesca Davis:
  • Both hold a 5-1 singles record
• Davis / Alessandra Anghel: 4-2 in doubles play

What’s at Stake for Wake Forest?

• Strengthening their national ranking inside the ITA Top 40
• Extending their doubles dominance against non-conference opponents
• Building momentum before returning to ACC play

Upcoming Matches for Wake Forest

• Friday, Feb. 28 – vs. NC State (Home)
• Sunday, Mar. 2 – vs. Duke (Home)

Source