Jan. 14, 2009
Norfolk, Va. - The Old Dominion University men's tennis team will begin its spring campaign on Saturday at the Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center with a rare tripleheader. The Monarchs will host George Washington at 10 a.m., Liberty at 3 p.m. and Norfolk State at 8 p.m. This is the second consecutive season that ODU has opened with a tripleheader, with the Monarchs going 3-0 a year ago on the first day of competition.
Last season the Monarchs posted a mark of 19-16, 3-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), but with five returning letterwinners, they should be among the top teams in the conference.
ODU is led by senior Aleksandr Seleznev and sophomore Tobias Fanselow. Seleznev was a first team All-CAA selection in singles and a second team honoree in doubles a year ago. Playing at the Monarchs No. 1 position, he recorded his second straight 20-win season with a mark of 21-14, including 16 straight set victories.
Currently ranked 81st nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), Fanselow kicked off his sophomore season this fall by posting an 8-5 record, including two victories over opponents ranked in the ITA's preseason poll. As a freshman last season, he earned second team All-CAA honors after registering a mark of 18-14 while playing primarily at the No. 3 position.
As a doubles team, Fanselow and Seleznev are ranked 43rd nationally after going 5-3 during the fall season with a win over the 45th ranked team of Chirico and Spencer of Texas A&M at the ITA All-American Tournament.