HOUSTON, RICE – The Old Dominion men’s tennis team (3-0) stormed back from losses in five of six first singles sets to take three, three-set matches and grab a 4-2 win over No. 75 ranked Rice at the George R. Brown Tennis Center in Houston on Sunday.
“This was a great team win today against a good Rice team,” said ODU head coach Aljosa Piric. “We were sets down on 5 out of six courts after losing a doubles point. But our guys stayed in the fight and battled through adversity to earn a tough road win. We are growing as a team, and will use this experience to get better.”
After dropping the double’s point, Zvonimir Podvinski (ODU) bested Gustavo Gonzalez (RICE) 6-1, 6-3 in straight sets to tie the match at 1 apiece. Old Dominion’s Michael Weindl tied the match at 2-2, after taking down Max Andrews (RICE) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
On Court No. 2, 2. ODU’s freshman, Adam Moundir, defeated Jamie Malik (RICE) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 7-5 after dropping the first set.
Old Dominion senior No. 42 nationally ranked Carlos Lopez Villa (Madrid, Spain) also dropped the first set, but proved to be too much for Rice’s No. 1, Srikar Alla, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2. Lopez Villa’s win gave the Tennis Monarchs their 4-2 victory in Houston, Texas on Sunday. Lopez Villa remains undefeated on the 2015 season (3-0). The right-handed senior took down the Conference’s top ranked player from UTSA, No. 42 Tomas Stillman, on Friday in San Antonio. Lopez Villa is now an impressive 41-2 over the past three seasons in an Old Dominion uniform.
Old Dominion 4, #75 Rice 2
1/25/2015 at Houston, TX
Singles competition
1. #42 Carlos Lopez Villa (ODU) def. Srikar Alla (RICE) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2
2. Adam Moundir (ODU) def. Jamie Malik (RICE) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 7-5
3. Michael Weindl (ODU) def. Max Andrews (RICE) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
4. Adam Gustafsson (RICE) def. Theophile Lanthiez (ODU) 6-3, 6-3
5. David Warren (RICE) vs. Javier Jover Maestre (ODU) 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 1-0, unfinished
6. Zvonimir Podvinski (ODU) def. Gustavo Gonzalez (RICE) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Michael Weindl/Adam Moundir (ODU) def. Max Andrews/David Warren (RICE) 6-3
2. Srikar Alla/Jamie Malik (RICE) def. Carlos Lopez Villa/Theophile Lanthiez (ODU) 7-6 (7-3)
3. Adam Gustafsson/Gustavo Gonzalez (RICE) def. Zvonimir Podvinski/Javier Jover Maestre (ODU) 6-3
Match Notes:
Old Dominion 3-0/2-0
Rice 3-2/0-2; National ranking #75
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,4,3,2,1)
T-3:03
NEXT UP FOR THE TENNIS MONARCHS
Next, Old Dominion will hosts its first two matches of the season in two weekends, when they welcome Elon (Sat., Feb 7 at 1:00 p.m.) and then Riochmond (Sunday, Feb. 8 at 1:00 p.m.).
For a complete look at the men’s single’s rankings, please click HERE.
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