NORFOLK, Va. – On what was Senior Day for Faith Atiso, the No. 71 Old Dominion women’s tennis team (14-4) won its eighth consecutive match, knocking off the highest ranked opponent during Dom Manilla’s ODU tenure in No. 48 Marshall (14-8) by a score of 7-0 on Friday afternoon inside of the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
Old Dominion kicked off Friday’s play by claiming the doubles point and taking a 1-0 lead heading into singles after Marijana Novakovic/Nikol Hristova (Court No. 2 win 8-4) and Ingrid Vojcinakova/Ivana Vukovic (Court No. 3 win 8-5) handled business.
Nikol Hristova made the team score 2-0 in favor of the Lady Tennis Monarchs, after taking down Maddie Silver in straight sets (6-2, 6-2). Hristova is now 10-4 in singles play, has won five matches in a row and seven of her last eight.
Ingrid Vojcinakova was next to finish, making the team score 3-0 for ODU after get the better of Marshall’s Anna Pomyatinskaya (6-0, 7-6). Vojcinakova moves to 14-4 on the season, and has won seven of the past eight as well as 12 of her last 14 matches.
Ivana Vukovic sealed the victory for Old Dominion (4-0), when she defeated Marija Bogicevic in straight sets (6-2, 6-4). Vukovic has now seven consecutive matches, 10 of her past 11 and is 12-4 in singles play.
Adriana Rajkovic lost her first set 1-6; however, came back on a mission to take sets two and three against Marshall’s Rachael Morales (1-6, 6-2, 6-2). Rajkovic’s victory gave Old Dominion a commanding 5-0 advantage over the Thundering Herd with just two single’s matches still playing.
After dropping the first set, No. 98 Borislava Botusharova proved her resiliency against Derya Turhan (6-7, 7-5, 10-1). Botusharova remains undefeated in the No. 1 spot for ODU and is 16-1 for the season. Old Dominion’s true freshman has now won a whopping 14 matches in a row, with victory being claimed in straight sets in 13 of her 16 wins.
Marijana Novakovic lost her first set, but ultimately persevered over Marshall’s Kai Broomfield (2-6, 7-5, 7-5). Novakovic is now 16-2 on the season, has won six matches in a row and 11 of her past 12.
Friday afternoon’s action kicked off with head coach Dom Manilla giving a speech to his lone senior Faith Atiso (Virginia Beach, Va.). Atiso was then given flowers and a picture collage.
ODU Head Coach Dom Manilla on senior Faith Atiso:
“My greatest memory of Faith is from the 2014 C-USA Tournament against Tulane. The team was down 3-2 and everyone was counting us out. Our star freshman, Ingrid Vojcinakova, was out with an ACL tear and Faith was slotted to play at the number 6 singles position. When Faith walked on the court, the odds and the pressure were stacked against her; if she lost the team lost. But, Faith knew that this was her time, it was her moment, it was her chance. Faith won her match and tied the team score at 3-3 under incredible pressure. When Faith won the last point, I couldn’t believe what she had just done. But, that is what Faith is about, she only needs a chance.”
FRIDAY’S SCOREBOARD
No. 71 ODU: 7 No. 48 MARSHALL: 0
Singles Competition (order of finish: 2, 3, 6, 5, 1, 4)
1. No. 98 Borislava Botusharova (ODU) def. Derya Turhan (MAR) 6-7, 7-5, 10-1
2. Nikol Hristova (ODU) def. Maddie Silver (MAR) 6-2, 6-2
3. Ingrid Vojcinakova (ODU) def. Anna Pomyatinskaya (MAR) 6-0, 7-6
4. Marijana Novakovic (ODU) def. Kai Broomfield (MAR) 2-6, 7-5, 7-5
5. Adriana Rajkovic (ODU) def. Rachael Morales (MAR) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Ivana Vukovic (ODU) def. Marija Bogicevic (MAR) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. Derya Turhan/Anna Pomyatinskaya (MAR) def. Borislava Botusharova/ Adriana Rajkovic (ODU) 8-4
2. Marijana Novakovic/Nikol Hristova (ODU) def. Kai Broomfield/Marija Bogicevic (MAR) 8-4
3. Ingrid Vojcinakova/Ivana Vukovic (ODU) def. Maddie Silver/Rachael Morales (MAR) 8-5
NEXT UP FOR OLD DOMINION
The Lady Tennis Monarchs will be right back in action for the regular season finale tomorrow, Saturday, April 10, at No. 62 William and Mary at 2:00 p.m. in Williamsburg, Va.
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