CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Playing in the lineup for only the fourth time this season, sophomore Amogh Prabhakar proved to be the hero, picking up the clinching win at No. 6 singles to give Wake Forest a 4-0 victory over VCU Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Championships in Charlottesville, Va.
With the Deacs leading 3-0, but struggling on the other three courts, Prabhakar cracked a second-serve ace to finish out a 6-2, 7-5 win at No. 6 singles, securing the Wake Forest victory.
The 33rd-ranked Demon Deacons (14-11) move on to the second round and will take on top-seeded Virginia at 3 p.m. tomorrow. VCU ends the year at 22-7.
The Demon Deacons showed no signs of sluggishness after the three-week layoff, easily cruising through the doubles point.
At No. 2 doubles, Danny Kreyman and Jonathan Wolff played tight with Filip Svensson and Max Wennakoski through the first six games of the match, but then turned up the heat, winning five of the next six games to take the match 8-4. At the top position, the 35th-ranked team of Iain Atkinson and David Hopkins jumped out to a 7-3 lead over Tim Johannsen and Antoine Baroz before Hopkins eventually served out the match 8-6 to give the Deacs the doubles point.
Adam Lee and Amogh Prabhakar were leading 6-4 at No. 3 doubles in Prabhakar's first dual match doubles appearance this season when the match was stopped.
Danny Kreyman picked up the Demon Deacons' second point in quick fashion, dispatching Baroz 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3. Iain Atkinson earned a solid win at No. 2 singles, taking down Max Wennakoski 6-3, 6-4 to put Wake on the verge of clinching at 3-0. Prabhakar then followed with his victory at No. 6 to give the Deacs the win.
#33 Wake Forest 4, #46 Virginia Commonwealth 0
Singles
1. #91 Jonathan Wolff (WF) vs. Tim Johannsen (VCU) 4-6, 4-3, unfinished
2. Iain Atkinson (WF) def. Max Wennakoski (VCU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Danny Kreyman (WF) def. Antoine Baroz (VCU) 6-2, 6-1
4. David Hopkins (WF) vs. J. Vazquez Catoira (VCU) 6-4, 2-6, unfinished
5. Adam Lee (WF) vs. Alejandro Argente (VCU) 4-6, 2-5, unfinished
6. Amogh Prabhakar (WF) def. Filip Svensson (VCU) 6-2, 7-5
Doubles
1. #35 Iain Atkinson/David Hopkins (WF) def. Tim Johannsen/Antoine Baroz (VCU) 8-6
2. Danny Kreyman/Jonathan Wolff (WF) def. Filip Svensson/Max Wennakoski (VCU) 8-4
3. Adam Lee/Amogh Prabhakar (WF) vs. Alejandro Argente/J. Vazquez Catoira (VCU) 6-4, unfinished
Match Notes:
Virginia Commonwealth 22-7; National ranking #46
Wake Forest 14-11; National ranking #33
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1*); Singles (3,2,6*)
First Round of the NCAA Championships - Hosted by Virginia
