Jan. 18, 2013
ATLANTA, Ga. - Old Dominion University sophomore defeated No. 32 Juan Spir at No. 1 singles but the Monarchs fell 5-2 at No. 59 Georgia Tech in the season opener Friday evening.
Lopez Villa had a solid fall where he defeated several ranked opponents and continued the trend in the first match of the season. He got off to a strong start against Spir, winning the first set 6-4, and with the second set tied at three apiece, reeled off three of the next four to clinch the match 6-4, 6-4.
Georgia Tech swept doubles action as No. 3 Juan Spir and Vikram Hundal Knocked off No. 23 Carlos Lopez Villa and Can Cetinel, 8-6. Juan Melian and Nathan Rakitt defeated Albert Ochagavia and Jonas Kuwert at No. 2, 8-3 while Garrett Gordon and Eduardo Segura finished off No. 34 Wesley Barrett and Tim Schweig, 8-3.
Earning the doubles point, Georgia Tech quickly took a 3-0 team lead with Rikkitt's winning at No. 5 and Segura at No. 4. Dante Terenzio turned the fortune for ODU taking out Garrett Gordon at No. 6 singles, 7-6, 6-0.
Lopez Villa's victory made it 3-2 but Hundal defeated Kuwert in a hard fought 7-6, 7-5 match at No. 3 to clinch the match for the Yellow Jackets.
In the final finish of the day, Melian needed three sets to defeat Ochagavia, 7-6, 1-6, 6-1 for the final 5-2 tally.
"We started slow in double, we came out tight coming out of the gates. We fought hard in singles and took them to the wire," head coach Aljosa Piric said. "Carlos had a good win against one of the nations top players and Dante gave us a good win as well. Our team has to execute critical points under pressure better. We will improve from this and be a better team going forward."
The Monarchs host Norfolk State on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. in the home opener.
#59 Georgia Tech 5, Old Dominion 2
Singles competition
1. Carlos Lopez Villa (ODU) def. #32 Juan Spir (GT) 6-4, 6-4
2. Juan Melian (GT) def. Albert Ochagavia (ODU) 7-6, 1-6, 6-1
3. Vikram Hundal (GT) def. Jonas Kuwert (ODU) 7-6, 7-5
4. Eduardo Segura (GT) def. Zvonimir Podvinski (ODU) 6-0, 6-4
5. Nathan Rakitt (GT) def. Wesley Barrett (ODU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Dante Terenzio (ODU) def. Garrett Gordon (GT) 7-6, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #3 Juan Spir/Vikram Hundal (GT) def. #23 Carlos Lopez Villa/Can Cetinel (ODU) 8-6
2. Juan Melian/Nathan Rakitt (GT) def. Albert Ochagavia/Jonas Kuwert (ODU) 8-3
3. Garrett Gordon/Eduardo Segura (GT) def. #34 Wesley Barrett/Tim Schweig (ODU) 8-3
Old Dominion 0-1
Georgia Tech 1-0; National ranking #59
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,4,6,1,3,2)
Match played indoors