Women’s Tennis: Elon Rallies For 4-3 Win Against Wake Forest

GREENSBORO, N.C. – After falling behind, 3-1, Elon University women’s tennis team stormed back for a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center.

Elon improves to 2-1 in dual matches on the year, while Wake Forest falls to 1-1. The win is Elon’s first over Wake Forest and first over a member of the ACC.

“Assistant Coach Bob Owens and I are so proud of the team,” said Elon head coach Elizabeth Anderson. “We asked them to give 100 percent mentally, physically and emotionally and they put all they had into the match. It was an entire team effort. Bryn got us going in singles by winning so quickly and starting the positive momentum. Viviana and Barbora won huge three-set matches and stayed so mentally strong throughout. That set senior Bri Berne up for clinching the match. Bri never gave up and fought back after being down several match points.”

Briana Berne gave Elon the match victory at No. 6 singles, as the 119th-ranked senior rallied back from a first-set loss to beat Wake Forest’s Brigita Bercyte, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3). The match lasted nearly five and a half hours.

The Demon Deacons took the doubles point and two out of the first three singles matches to take a 3-1 advantage on the Phoenix, despite Elon playing close in every spot.

Bryn Khoury gave Elon its first point of the match at No. 4 singles, defeating Wake Forest’s Andrea Retolaza in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, to tie the match at 1-1.

But the Demon Deacons responded quickly, winning at No. 1 and 2 singles to go ahead by two points in the match, 3-1. Jordan Johnston dropped a 6-1, 6-4, decision to Wake’s Kathryn Talbert, while Frida Jansaker dropped a tough battle with Kasey Gardiner, 7-5, 6-4.

Barbora Lazarova needed three sets to put away Wake’s Karen Forman, but the sophomore earned an important point for the Phoenix to make it a 3-2 match. Lazarova won, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

Viviana Stavreva knotted the match at 3-all in impressive fashion, as the junior won 6-0, 6-7 (4), 6-4, to give the maroon and gold momentum with Berne closing her match at No. 6.

Elon returns to action on Feb. 4 at Gardner-Webb.