NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University men’s tennis team will be in action twice this weekend at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center, as they will take on No. 47 UNCW on Saturday, March 29, at 12:00 p.m. and then against JMU on Sunday, March 30, at 11:00 a.m.
The Old Dominion Monarchs (11-6, 1-0)
The Monarchs are coming off a huge come from behind victory over No. 65 College of Charleston. This was Old Dominion’s first win over a ranked opponent this season.
Head Coach Aljosa Piric commented, “It was a very good win against a very good Charleston team. We played very well for each other and I am very pleased with the team’s effort. This win gives us confidence, by knowing we can beat a nationally ranked team and that we are right there with those nationally ranked teams. We were down 3-2 and Koen was down 5-2 in the third set, but Koen wasn’t going to give up and fought all the way until the end. Zvonimir did really well clinching for us today. He has had some close matches in the past and this was a big match for him personally and for us as a team.”
The Monarchs are led by Junior No. 1 singles player Carlos Lopez Villa, who has won five matches in a row and is 16-1 on the season. Villa has been ranked throughout the whole season, and has been as high as No. 30.
Zvonimir Podvinski has won five of his last seven matches and won the deciding game against the College of Charleston to give the Monarchs the coveted victory. Podvinski and his doubles partner Koen Wiggemans are 3-1 on the year at the No. 2 doubles position.
Meet No. 47 UNCW (8-4) – Saturday, March 29 at 12:00 p.m. – Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center
No. 47 is UNCW’s highest rank of the season. The Seahawks have beaten four ranked opponents this year. The Seahawks are coming off a 3-0 sweep at the Battle of the Beach, where they defeated Yale, No. 51 UCF and Binghamton.
No. 69 Rafael Atia is 9-3 on the season and has upset several ranked opponents, including No. 36 Cameron Silverman from Elon. Atia has also won CAA Player of the Week honors two weeks in a row. Pedro Mol has won CAA Player of the Week honors, along with Kaue Pereira for Doubles Team of the Week as Mol and Pereira are currently ranked No. 68 with an 8-3 overall record.
Meet JMU (4-8) - Sunday, March 30 at 11:00 a.m. – Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center
The Dukes will face off against Drexel and Norfolk State on their way to Old Dominion on Sunday. JMU has played 12 matches in row on the road this season. They are coming of a 6-1 loss to William and Mary on Sunday. James Madison is coached by Steve Secord, who was a key player on some of JMU's most successful tennis teams, enters his 18th season as the Dukes' head coach. During his playing days, Secord led the Dukes to two CAA Championships and two runner-up finishes.
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