NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University men’s tennis team (4-0) hosted Elon University Saturday at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center, in a match that the Monarchs ended up sweeping the Phoenix by a score of 7-0.
“It’s a great team win against a nationally ranked team,” said head coach Aljosa Piric. “A good home opener for us. I’m very pleased with our effort, very pleased with the fight. In doubles, they pushed us, they came out to play. We split No. 1 and No. 3, so it came down to the No. 2 doubles match, which we ended up pulling a tough one out.”
Piric continued, “In singles our guys came out strong from the very first point and they maintained it throughout the match. I’m very pleased with the effort and fight and we look forward to battling Richmond tomorrow.”
Old Dominion earned the doubles point, taking two-of-three matches against the Phoenix. Zvonimir Podvinski and Javier Jover Maestre finished first with a 6-2 decision over Elon’s Jordan Kaufman and Neal Port at the No. 3 position. Carlos Lopez Villa and teammate Theophile Lanthiez won the other doubles match for ODU, edging Robert Lindgren and Juan Madrid 7-6 (1) in a close No. 2 battle.
In No. 1 singles action, No. 42-ranked Lopez Villa defeated Stefan Fortmann by a score of 6-1, 6-1. Lopez remains a perfect 4-0 on the season and is 42-2 over the last three seasons.
Adam Moundir played at the No. 2 spot and was next to finish with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Josh Luck. Javier Jover Maestre, in the No. 5 spot, downed Elon’s Kaufman 6-3, 6-3.
At No. 3 singles, Michael Weindl earned a 6-0, 7-6 (2) decision against Lindgren. Podvinski played No. 6 singles and went three sets with Madrid. After falling in the first set 5-7, the junior from Croatia took the second set 6-1 and the final set 10-7.
Lanthiez and Brian Kowalski did not finish their No. 4 match. Kowalski won the first set 7-6 (4), but then defaulted in the following set as Lanthiez was up 1-0.
Final Score: ODU 7 ELON: 0
Doubles (order of finish: 3, 1, 2)
No. 1 – Fortmann/Kowalski (ELON) def. Moundir/Weindl (ODU) 7-6
No. 2 – Lopez Villa/Lanthiez (ODU) def. Lindgren/Madrid (ELON) 7-6 (1)
No. 3 – Podvinski/Jover Maestre (ODU) def. Kaufman/Port (ELON) 6-2
Singles (order of finish: 1, 2, 5, 3, 6)
No. 1 – Lopez Villa (ODU) def. Fortmann (ELON) 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 – Moundir (ODU) def. Luck (ELON) 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 – Weindl (ODU) def. Lindgren (ELON) 6-0, 7-6 (2)
No. 4 – Lanthiez (ODU) def. Kowalski (ELON) 6-7 (4), DNF
No. 5 – Jover Maestre (ODU) def. Kaufman (ELON) 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 – Podvinski (ODU) def. Madrid (ELON) 5-7, 6-1, 10-7
NEXT UP FOR THE MONARCHS
Old Dominion returns to action tomorrow as the Monarchs host the University of Richmond for a 1 p.m. ET match.
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