Wake Forest and Arizona will compete at the ITA National quarters



by LORENZO CIOTTI

Wake Forest and Arizona will compete at the ITA National quarters
© Wake Forest website

No.6 Wake Forest men's tennis team defeated No.11 University of Michigan 4-1 in the first round of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, yesterday at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center. The Demon Deacons will face the University of Arizona in a few hours. The Wildcats defeated No.3 Texas Longhorns 4-2.

Wake Forest defeated Michigan

The Deacs jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Friday after securing the doubles point. Leading 1-0 after doubles, the Demon Deacons continued their momentum in singles, notching three straight victories.

With his win on court six, freshman Luca Pow improved to a stellar 8-2 in doubles singles to start his collegiate career. Friday's win against the Wolverines marked Wake Forest's fourth win over a top-20 opponent this season. Additionally, it marked the second time the Demon Deacons reached the quarter-finals of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in the last three years.

Coach Tony Bresky analyzed after the win: "It's always exciting to see that Friday night game, especially in New York City, with all of our alumni here. Michigan has a great team and they've been really good for a long time. We're excited to get the win. As the games went on, I thought we played really well in some spots. We're excited to move forward and have another night game. Hopefully we'll have another great crowd. I think the Our crowd was fantastic tonight. We're excited to move forward."

Men's singles:

1. #23 Filippo Moroni (WF) vs. #17 Gavin Young (MICH) 7-6 (7-2), 2-1, unfinished
2. #49 DK Suresh Ekambaram (WF) def. #48 Jacob Bickersteth (MICH) 6-2, 7-6 (11-9)
3. #125 Patorn Hanchaikul (MICH) def. Matthew Thomson (WF) 6-3, 6-3
4. Luciano Tacchi (WF) def. Björn Swenson (MICH) 6-4, 6-4
5. Holden Koons (WF) vs. Will Cooksey (MICH) 3-6, 3-5, unfinished
6. Luca Pow (WF) def. Nicholas Steiglehner (MICH) 6-4, 6-3

Men's doubles:

1. #7 Holden Koons/DK Suresh Ekambaram (WF) v Jacob Bickersteth/Gavin Young (MICH) 6-6, unfinished
2. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WF) def. Will Cooksey/Patorn Hanchaikul (MICH) 6-2
3. Luca Pow/Luciano Tacchi (WF) def. Alex Cairo/Nicholas Steiglehner (MICH) 7-6 (9-7)

Arizona defeated Texas

In its first-ever appearance at the ITA National Indoor Championship, Arizona qualified for the quarterfinals by defeating Texas Longhorns 4-2. The Wildcats earned the double point, taking a 1-0 lead. Herman Hoeyeraal and Eric Padgham started the weekend for the Wildcats by defeating their opponents 6-4. Not long after, Gustaf Strom and Alexander Rozin took a 1-0 lead for Arizona after a 6-3 win to secure the doubles point.

No. 5 Colton Smith, No. 43 Jay Friend, No. 47 Gustaf Strom, Nick Lagaev and No. 116 Herman Hoeyeraal represented Arizona in the singles lineup. Captain Lagaev defeated No. 53 Pierre-Yves Bailly to earn a 6-3, 6-4 series victory and extend the Wildcats' lead 2-0. Subsequent matches were played in three sets. Smith and Friend fell to No. 1 Eliot Spizzirri and No. 2 Micah Braswell to tie the score 2-2.

Strom was the fourth to finish to regain Arizona's lead after dominating in a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory. Hoeyeraal won the match in a tie-break against Cleeve Harper. Hoeyeraal came back in the second set 6-4 to secure the 4-2 lead after a score of 7-6 (5) in the tie.