Feb. 18, 2012
NORFOLK, Va.- Old Dominion University Women's Tennis held their second and final home doubleheader of the season by matching up with the University of Maryland Baltimore-County and Georgetown University on Saturday. The Lady Monarchs beat the Retrievers 4-3 but dropped a tough one to the Hoyas 5-2.
"It was a good day for the team and it was a good measuring stick for us for the future. People perceived that we could not hang with top teams today we proved them wrong," Lady Monarch head coach Dominic Manilla said on the outcome of the match. "Melissa is getting better and overall everyone looks good going forward."
In the morning the doubles pair of Diana Ivanova with Melissa Esnal-Olguin won over Kim Berghaus with Carmen Jackman, 8-4. Aleksandra Mitrovska and Nika Khmolovska survived at No.2 Doubles over Shalini Sahoo with Josefin Stage-Jonsson, 8-6. There was no third doubles match as the Retrievers won by default.
Three of the top four Lady Monarchs went into three sets, and No.4 also went into three sets but came up short. Mitrovska came from behind to defeat Sahoo, and Ivanova battled through some extended volleys to topple Berghaus. Esnal Olguin beat Carmen Jackman but Khmolovska fell to Isabel Aldunate, (6-3, 4-6, 6-2) and (2-6, 6-1, 6-3) respectively. Faith Atiso lost in straight sets to Heidi Danielsson 6-2, 6-2, and the Retrievers also won in number six singles by default.
The Lady Monarchs squeezed by the Retrievers and had a little break before taking on the Hoyas in the afternoon.
Georgetown came out of the gate fast in doubles as Tina Tehrani and Victoria Sekely spoiled Aleksandra Mitrovska and Juliana Pires 8-4. Next, Nika Khmolovska and Faith Atiso were beaten by Sophie Panarese and Alexandra Landers 8-4. However, Diana Ivanova and Melissa Esnal Olguin pulled through and took one from the Hoyas, 8-5, over Lauren Greco and Kelly Comolli.
Down 1-0, Ivanova swiftly beat Lauren Greco in singles play in straight sets and it was her fourth win of the day and her first win versus a ranked opponent in her career.
"It was nice to get my first ranked win especially against a good regional competitor," said Diana Ivanova after the match. "I worked hard all year for this and I need to continue to do the same things moving forward."
Juliana Pires could not fend off Kelly Comolli as she lost in straight sets. Aleksandra Mitrovska tied the match back at 2 apiece when she defeated Tehrani in straight sets.
Esnal Olguin battled Sekely for three sets, but dropped a tough one 0-6, 6-3, 6-3. Atiso also dropped a tough match to Panarese, and Khmolovska could not hand on in a hard tie-breaker set against Panarese.
With today's split the Lady Monarchs become 5-2 midway through the season and will host the St. Francis University Red Hash tomorrow, February 19, at 11 AM.
BOX SCORES:
ODU 4
UMBC 3
Doubles:
Diana Ivanova/ Melissa Esnal-Olguin over Kim Berghaus/ Carmen Jackman, 8-4
Aleksandra Mitrovska/Nika Khmolovska over Josefin Stange-Jonsson/ Shalini Sahoo, 8-6
Isabel Aldunate/ Heidi Danielsson win by default.
Singles:
Diana Ivanova over Kim Berghaus, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
Aleksandra Mitrovska over Shalini Sahoo, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
Melissa Esnal-Olguin over Carmen Jackman, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Isabel Aldunate over Nika Khmolovska, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
Heidi Danielsson over Faith Atiso, 6-2, 6-2
Josefin Stange-Jonsson wins by default.
Order of Finish:
Doubles: 1, 2
Singles: 2, 1, 3, 4, 5
ODU 2
GT 5
Doubles:
Diana Ivanova/ Melissa Esnal Olguin over Lauren Greco/ Kelly Comolli, 8-5
Tina Tehrani/ Victoria Sekely over Aleksandra Mitrovska/ Juliana Pires, 8-4
Sophie Panarese/ Alexandra Landers over Nika Khmolovska/ Faith Atiso, 8-4
Singles:
Diana Ivanova over Lauren Greco, 6-2, 6-1
Aleksandra Mitrovska over Tina Tehrani, 7-5, 6-1
Kelly Comolli over Juliana Pires, 6-4, 6-4
Victoria Sekely over Melissa Esnal Olguin, 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
Sophie Panarese over Nika Khmolovska, 5-7, 7-5, (11-9)
Alexandra Landers over Faith Atiso, 6-1, 6-0
Order of Finish:
Doubles: 2, 3, 1
Singles: 1, 3, 2, 4, 6, 5