Cullowhee, N.C. -- The Western Carolina tennis team is hitting the road yet again for a matchup with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Greenville, S.C. Wake Forest will begin the day with a noon match against the Furman Paladins before the neutral site matchup with the Catamounts begins at 3:30 p.m.
Match Information
Teams: Western Carolina (8-6) vs Wake Forest (8-6)
March 10, 2024 | 3:30 p.m. | Greenville, S.C.
Last Time Out
Both teams are coming off road losses by the same score. Western Carolina most recently fell at Appalachian State by a score of 6-1, though the match was harder fought than the score indicated. The Catamounts were short-handed going into the match and had to forfeit a doubles matchup and a singles point. Angela Perez fought to earn the sole Catamount point of the day on the second court but was one of three WCU athletes to push to tiebreakers. Jade Groen and Andrea Redondo also clawed their way to a 10-point tiebreaker but fell in the first and fourth spots respectively.
The Demon Deacons fell in Raleigh, N.C. just yesterday to NC State in a 6-1 match. Wake Forest also claimed their only point of the match on the second court, as Brooke Killingsworth fought to a tiebreaker victory of her own against top-40 ranked Abigail Rencheli. Nevena Carton also pushed to a tiebreaker on the fourth court but was unable to come away with the victory.
Players to Watch:
In addition to the previously mentioned Catamounts who fought to tiebreakers against Appalachian State, Dasha Osadova also put in an impressive effort against the Mountaineers. The Sophomore from London lost in straight sets, but pushed her opponent on the fifth court with 7-5 and 6-4 set finishes.
The Demon Deacons are headlined by Case Wooten, the no. 28 ranked player in the collegiate standings. Wooten began the season ranked no. 42, but has steadily climbed the rankings, breaking into the top 30 late in February. She holds an 8-3 record in the top court so far this season, with her only losses coming at No. 18 Tennessee (1/16/24), at FIU (1/28/24), and at No. 6 NC State (3/8/24).
Series History:
The Catamounts and Demon Deacons have only played once before. Western Carolina made the trip to Winston-Salem in the 2018-19 season for a matchup that ended in a 7-0 decision in favor of the home team.
