PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Old Dominion University’s No. 40 nationally ranked women’s tennis team (8-3) is scheduled to travel to Philadelphia, Pa. for a match at Penn (5-4) at the Hamlin/Hecht Tennis Center at 1:00 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 24. ODU’s match originally scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 25 against Temple has been postponed.
Inside the Numbers for ODU
The Monarchs have an overall singles record of 45-14, an overall doubles record of 19-9 and a national ranking of No. 40. Below is a recap of the early season success for Old Dominion.
Singles
Adriana Rajkovic: 9-0
Yulia Starodubtseva: 8-2
Nataliia Vlasova: 8-2
Louie McLelland: 7-3
Victoria Olivarez: 7-1
Natalya Malenko: 2-0
Doubles
Victoria Olivarez/Nataliia Vlasova: 8-3
Natalya Malenko/Adriana Rajkovic: 5-2
Holly Hutchinson/Yulia Starodubtseva: 4-4
Holly Hutchinson/Louie McLelland: 1-0
Louie McLelland/Adriana Rajkovic: 1-0
Monarch Spotlight
Adriana Rajkovic out of Velika Gorica, Croatia is currently in her senior season and a team captain at ODU. Rajkovic has not lost a singles match so far this season (9-0). Rajkovic also pairs with Natalya Malenko to make up a doubles tandem that is currently second on the team in wins with five. In addition, Rajkovic was a key contributor during Old Dominion's five match win streak earlier this season. She went a perfect 4-0 over that span helping lead ODU to an 8-1 record.
Meet Penn
This season, University of Pennsylvania head coach Sanela Kunovac began her ninth season in charge of the women’s tennis program. With Kunovac at the helm, the Quakers have experienced winning seasons in back to back years (11-9 both years). This season, Penn is off to a 5-4 start. Penn, led by reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year Ashley Zhu (6-2 singles) and junior Marta Kowalska (5-1 singles), have posted a 3-1 record at home thus far. The Quakers enter their match with Old Dominion this weekend after winning their last match against Hofstra 6-1. ODU and Penn are scheduled to face off at 1:00 p.m. this Saturday.
Looking Ahead for the Monarchs
Following their match against Penn on Saturday, the Monarchs will travel to Huntington, W.V. to take on Conference USA opponent Marshall on Saturday, March 3. ODU will then be back in action the following day when they face West Virginia at 10:00 a.m. EST. Old Dominion begins their final homestand of the season Friday, March 9, when Virginia Tech comes to town. That is the first of seven straight home matches for the Monarchs. The 2018 Conference USA Tournament, which begins on April 19, will also take place at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center in Norfolk, Va. this year.