RICHMOND, Va. - VCU's 21st-ranked Max Wennakoski pulled out a three-set win at No. 1 singles over Wake Forest's David Hopkins to give the No. 26 Rams a 4-2 victory over the No. 24 Demon Deacons on Tuesday in Richmond.
After rain delayed the start of the match by more than two hours, singles was played first in order to attempt to reach a result without playing doubles. VCU jumped out to a 2-0 lead, and after Wake Forest rallied to tie the match with victories by Adam Lee and Morgan Mays, the Rams took the final two singles matches in three sets, capped off by Wennakoski at No. 1, to earn the win.
With a loss in their final non-conference match of the year, the Deacons dropped to 11-4 heading into their ACC opener at No. 8 Duke on Friday.
Alejandro Argente got VCU on the board at No. 5 singles, beating Jon Ho 6-1, 6-2, and No. 72 Alexis Heugas followed, edging No. 56 Amogh Prabhakar 6-4, 6-4 to give the Rams a 2-0 lead.
But the Deacons got a spark from the bottom half of their lineup. After a tough first set, Adam Lee cruised in the second against Michal Voscek at No. 4, winning 7-6, 6-1. Appearing in the Wake Forest lineup for the second match in a row, freshman Morgan Mays tied the match at 2-2 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jaime Vazquez at the No. 6 positions.
The final two matches on court went three sets, and the Rams were able to grind out victories in both of them to earn the win. Claes Goransson snuck by Wake Forest's Danny Kreyman 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 at No. 3, and Wennakoski earned the clinching point at the top position, taking down Hopkins 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
The Demon Deacons will now turn their attention to conference play as they travel to Durham to take on Duke at 1 p.m. Wake Forest's first home ACC match will not come until March 29 when the Deacons host Miami at 4 p.m.
#26 Virginia Commonwealth 4, #22 Wake Forest 2
Singles
1. #21 Max Wennakoski (VCU) def. David Hopkins (WF) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
2. #72 Alexis Heugas (VCU) def. #56 Amogh Prabhakar (WF) 6-4, 6-4
3. Claes Goransson (VCU) def. Danny Kreyman (WF) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
4. Adam Lee (WF) def. Michal Voscek (VCU) 7-6, 6-1
5. Alejandro Argente (VCU) def. Jon Ho (WF) 6-1, 6-2
6. Morgan Mays (WF) def. Jaime Vazquez (VCU) 6-3, 6-4
Match Notes:
Wake Forest 11-4; National ranking #22
Virginia Commonwealth 13-4; National ranking #26
Order of finish: Doubles (); Singles (5,2,4,6,3,1*)
Singles played first
Doubles not played
