Women's Tennis Knocks Off ACC Foe Wake Forest, 4-3

Niltooli Wilkins

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The UNCG women's tennis team earned a hard fought 4-3 victory against ACC member Wake Forest Saturday afternoon at the Wake Forest Tennis complex. Senior Niltooli Wilkins (Burnsville, Minn./Homeschooled) clinched the victory with a three-set win at No. 1 singles.  

"We got the win today, but even if the results had gone the other way I would have been proud of the way they competed today," said assistant coach Alejandra Guerra.

"It's a very good win for us," said head coach Jeff Trivette. "We came from behind to win the doubles point and that proved crucial for us to win. I am proud of the fight we showed to beat an ACC team on their home courts." 

With the overall score tied at 3-3, Wilkins rallied from a 4-5 deficit and was able to break her opponent Kathryn Talbert to tie the game at 5-5. Wilkins won the next two games to finish off the win for the Spartans.  

In doubles, Wilkins and classmate Alex Whitehead (Victoria, Australia / Star of the Sea College) dropped their match against Kathryn Talbert and Kasey Gardiner, 8-2. 

Senior Annette Rios (Santa Ana, El Salvador / Liceo Latinoamericano) and sophomore Kayla Gammie (Port St. Lucie, Fla. / Broward Virtual School) fought to win 9-7 against Karen Forman and Xue Zhang. 

Sophomore Stephanie Falcon (Marietta, Ga. / Walton) and junior Dilara Yurtkuran (Istanbul, Turkey / Gunes Koleji) beat Andrea Retolaza and Brigeta Bercyte, 8-6. 

Also in singles, Yurtkuran lost in a though three-set match to Gardiner, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 at No. 2. 

At No. 3 Whitehead picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win against Retolaza. 

Rios fell to Zhang, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4, while freshman Soumeya Anane (Coventry, Great Britain / Tile Hill Wood School) also lost her match, 7-5, 4-6, 6-0 at No. 5. 

Falcon took down Bercyte at No. 6 with a 6-4, 6-3 victory. 

The 2-2 Spartans return to action when they host Long Beach State Friday, Feb. 22 at the UNCG Tennis Courts. Play will begin at 2 p.m.

UNCG 4, Wake Forest 3

 Singles competition 

1. Niltooli Wilkins (UNCG) def. Kathryn Talbert (WF) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5

2. Kasey Gardiner (WF) def. Dilara Yurtkuran (UNCG) 6-3, 6-2

3. Alex Whitehead (UNCG) def. Andrea Retolaza (WF) 6-3, 7-6 (0-7)

4. Xue Zhang (WF) def. Annette Rios (UNCG) 6-3, 6-2

5. Karen Forman (WF) def. Soumeya Anane (UNCG) 7-5, 4-6, 6-0

6. Stephanie Falcon (UNCG) def. Brigita Bercyte (WF) 6-4, 6-3 

 Doubles competition 

1. Kathryn Talbert/Kasey Gardiner (WF) def. Alex Whitehead/Niltooli Wilkins (UNCG) 8-2

2. Annette Rios/Kayla Gammie (UNCG) def. Karen Forman/Xue Zhang (WF) 9-7

3. Stephanie Falcon/Dilara Yurtkuran (UNCG) def. Andrea Retolaza/Brigita Bercyte (WF) 8-6

Match Notes:

UNCG 2-2

Wake Forest 1-4

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,4,3,6,5,1)

T-4:04  A-54