NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University women’s tennis team has now won two consecutive, three of their last four and six of their last eight matches, with Wednesday’s 4-0 home conference opening victory over East Carolina at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center. With the win, the Lady Monarchs advance their record to 9-4, while the Pirates fall to 9-8 on the season.
“Today felt great getting our first home conference win, which was important to us,” said Old Dominion head coach Dom Manilla. “I think we made a little bit of a statement and our ladies all seemed fired up. I loved the way that Ivana came back in her match and embraced the challenge, ECU’s No. 3 was very good.”
Wednesday’s match began with ODU claiming the coveted double’s point, as the Lady Monarchs tandem of Nikol Hristova and Melissa Esnal Olguin took down East Carolina’s Dana Gray and Maria Storozheva 8-4. Sealing the deal for Old Dominion on Court No. 2 was the fabulous freshmen duo of Ingrid Vojcinakova and Marijana Novakovic handling ECU’s Michelle Castro and Nicole LaDuca, 8-2.
In No. 1 singles, Nikol Hristova made quick work of Melis Tanik, 6-2, 6-1. Hristova, just a sophomore, is now 8-2 on the season while playing at the top spot for the Lady Monarchs.
Marijana Novakovic was next off the courts, as she was too much for ECU’s Nicole LaDuca (6-1, 6-3). Novakovic’s victory at No. 4 singles, gave Old Dominion a 3-0 advantage over the Pirates.
Manilla talked about the play of Novakovic, “I am so happy with Marijana and her ability to keep winning for us as a true freshman in both singles and doubles. She’s been really impressive.”
Ingrid Vojcinakova proved her resiliency by winning a marathon of a first set 7-5 over Michelle Castro, and then took the second set 6-2 to clinch the game, set and match for the Lady Monarchs.
“Ingrid battled through some adversity in the first set and then just stayed strong in the second,” Manilla commented.
NEXT UP FOR THE LADY TENNIS MONARCHS
Old Dominion will be back in action this Friday at 1:00 p.m. against another Conference USA foe in Marshall at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
Manilla discussed the crucial upcoming match, “Last year when we played Marshall, we lost to them 4-3 at their place. The year before that, we lost to them 4-3 at a neutral site. So this is our first opportunity to play Marshall at home. This season, they have been in and out of the national rankings, and we have been in and out of the national rankings. We hope to get Marshall this time around and have the opportunity to compete for the three seed in the conference standings.”
RESULTS
Old Dominion: 4 East Carolina: 0
DOUBLES
1. Nikol Hristova/Melissa Esnal Olguin (ODU) def.Dana Gray/Maria Storozheva (ECU) 8-4
2. Ingrid Vojcinakova/Marijana Novakovic (ODU) def. Michelle Castro/Nicole LaDuca (ECU) 8-2
3. Nika Khomolovska/Ivana Vukovic (ODU) dnf. Emily Groeneveld/Melis Tanik (ECU) 7-7(1-2)
SINGLES
1. Nikol Hristova (ODU) def. Melis Tanik (ECU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Ingird Vojcinakova (ODU) def. Michelle Castro (ECU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Ivana Vukovic (ODU) dnf. Maria Storozheva (ECU) 2-6, 7-5, 1-0
4. Marijana Novakovic (ODU) def. Nicole LaDuca (ECU)6-1, 6-3
5. Melissa Esnal Olguin (ODU) dnf. Emily Groeneveld (ECU) 4-2
6. Nika Khomolovska (ODU) dnf. Dana Gray (ECU) 5-1
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