NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University women’s tennis team will return to action this weekend for two matches at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center. On Saturday, March 1, the Lady Tennis Monarchs will take on the Spiders from the University of Richmond at 1:00 p.m. On Sunday, March 2, ODU will square-off against the Owls from Temple University at noon.
Old Dominion enters this weekend with a 4-2 overall record with victories over Howard, Norfolk State, Penn and most recently West Virginia. Both Nika Khmolovska and Ingrid Vojcinakova are 4-1 in single’s action this season. Melissa Esnal Olguin enters the weekend with a 3-1 record, while Nikol Hristova is 3-2 playing at No. 1 for the Lady Monarchs.
In doubles, Hristova and Vojcinakova are a perfect 2-0 while playing together. Also with a 2-0 record is ODU’s tandem of Vojcinakova and Faith Atiso. Vojcinakova and fellow freshman Marijana Novakovic are currently 2-1 when teaming up together for doubles play.
About the Richmond Spiders (3-2) – Saturday March 1 at 1:00 p.m.
Sophomore Katya Salas leads the Spiders with a 4-1 record in singles competition this season. Richmond began the season with a loss to Maryland but bounced back with three straight wins against Villanova, Longwood and West Virginia. Richmond lost a close 4-3 match to the Naval Academy in their last outing on the court.
Mark Wesselink enters his 23rd season as the Richmond women’s tennis head coach. During his time at Richmond Wesselink has had 17 winning seasons and sent nine teams to the NCAA Tournament.
Salas was recently named Atlantic 10 Women’s Tennis Performer of the Week after she defeated West Virginia’s Irinka Toidze in straight sets and Navy’s Logan Antill in three sets.
Richmond Probable Lineup:
Singles-
No. 1 Anna Abadias Morales
No. 2 Melissa Kandinata
No. 3 Elizabeth Sims
No. 4 Katya Salas
No. 5 Brittany Boys
No. 6 Kelsey Williams
Doubles-
No. 1 Melissa Kandinata/Brittany Boys
No. 2 Anna Abadias Morales/ Katya Salas
No. 3 Elizabeth Sims/Denny Lamachia
About the Temple Owls (2-4) – Sunday March 2 at 12:00 p.m.
Senior Jordan Batey leads the Owls with a 7-4 singles record this season. Senior Yana Mavrina won her last match in three sets with the final being a 13-11 set score. Also, sophomore Minami Okajima also won her last match against Stony Brook in straight sets.
Temple is 2-4 this season after losing the last three matches to Stony Brook (4-2), Fairleigh Dickinson (4-3) and Xavier (5-2). The Owls roster features six players from a different country.
Steve Mauro enters his ninth season as the Temple’s women’s tennis head coach. During his time at Temple he also has coached the men’s tennis program to a 17-8 record and a third place finish in the Atlantic 10 tournament.
Temple Probable Lineup:
Singles-
No. 1 Alicia Doms
No. 2 Yana Mavrina*
No. 3 Jordan Batey
No. 4 Minami Okajima*
No. 5 Dina Karina
No. 6 Rebecca Breland
Doubles-
No. 1 Rebecca Breland/Dina Karina
No. 2 Yana Mavrina/Anais Nussaume
No. 3 Alicia Doms/Minami Okajima
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