Sports > April 17, 2008

By Andrew LeRay | Staff writer

The Deacs wrapped up their regular season schedule with losses at Florida State on April 11 and Miami on April 13. Wake Forest enters the ACC Tournament on a seven match losing streak, turning in an overall record of 8-12 and an ACC record of 4-7.

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Sophomore Sasha Kulikova stretches for a ball in a recent match. Kulikova earned the only singles victory for the Deacs April 13, defeating Miami’s No. 20 Laura Vallverdu. (Kelly Makepeace/Old Gold & Black)

“Right now, the team is focused on the first round of ACC’s against N.C. State,” said senior Alexandra Hirsch. “At this point, it is important for us to take it day-by-day and match-by-match.”

The No. 19 Florida State Seminoles defeated the Deacs at Leighton Tennis Stadium by a score of 6-1.

With Wake still mired by a number of injuries, the team was forced to forfeit a singles and doubles match, immediately putting them at a disadvantage for the rest of the afternoon.

The clinching match was won by Seminole senior Carolin Walter over Deacon freshman Emilee Malvehy in three sets.

The only victory of the day for the Deacons came from freshman Katarina Reveche, as she defeated Florida State sophomore Jessica Wente in straight sets at No. 4 singles.

The losing streak continued for Wake Forest on April 13, as they lost their final match of the regular season to the No. 11 Miami Hurricanes.

With the win, Miami improved their record to 8-2 in the conference and 15-4 overall.

Miami earned a first round bye in the upcoming ACC tournament and brings a seven match win streak into the postseason play.

The Deacons again began the day down 1-0 before the matches began, due to injuries on the team.

The Deacons forfeited the No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles positions.

Deacon sophomore Sasha Kulikova earned the only singles victory of the day for Wake, as she downed No. 20 Laura Vallverdu in straight sets at No. 1 singles.

The win by Kulikova snapped Vallverdu’s seven match win streak.

Reveche and sophomore Aileen Davis paired up to record the Deacons’ only doubles victory of the weekend, defeating the Hurricane pair of freshman Bianca Eickhorn and senior Caren Seenauth, 8-4.

The ACC Tournament is set to start April 17 in Altamonte Springs, Fla. The Deacons will take on N.C. State in the first round.

“The fact that we have been able to compete with top-ranked opponents with only five players should give the team confidence going into the postseason since we will have a full line-up for the first match of the ACC’s,” said Hirsch. “Everyone just needs to focus on their match and I think they will do great.”

Wake Forest dropped their only match against the Wolfpack this season, 5-2.