WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The No. 32 Old Dominion men’s tennis team (19-7) fell to No. 29 South Carolina (19-8) by a 4-1 score in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex on Saturday afternoon.
“I thought we really started out well, brought a lot of energy and put ourselves in a great position to claim the doubles point, but just didn’t execute at the end,” explained ODU head coach Dominik Mueller. “At the end of the day, I am extremely proud of this team. This match could have been over a half hour earlier, but for a moment there, I really thought this match was going to turn around. After the match, I told the guys that I am really proud of them. This last match doesn’t define our season or our players’ careers. I think this was one of the best seasons in school history and that is what defines our players.”
Vincent Schneider picked up Old Dominion’s lone point after making quick work out of South Carolina’s Thomas Mayronne (6-2, 6-1) in No. 3 singles. The loss snapped the Monarchs’ 11-match win streak, in which they had outscored opponents 46-12 during that stretch.
“This was a tough match for us,” said ODU senior and two-time Conference USA Player of the Year, Adam Moundir. “We were out there battling. It was really unfortunate that we didn’t get the doubles point. If we did get the doubles point, I think it could’ve been a different outcome, but it is what it is and we have to give credit to South Carolina. I think this was the best season of my four years at ODU. I think there are a lot of exciting things happening with this program and I am excited to follow this team over the next couple years. It will be emotional leaving Old Dominion, but I have plenty of amazing memories to look back on with amazing people.”
Old Dominion ended the year claiming victory in 13 of its last 15 matches, while outscoring opponents 57-21.
“Even though it was a 4-1 final score, it was very close,” said ODU senior Michael Weindl. “I thought for sure we were going to get the doubles point but we lost some breaks and ended up losing the point. After losing some first sets in singles, we kept fighting. It was a great season for us. The best part of the season was the Conference USA Championship; we had been working for it for four years and finally won it this year, so we are very happy about that. It has been four amazing years and even though we lost today, it has been a great experience.”
Aziz Kijametovic of the Old Dominion men’s tennis team automatically qualified 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Singles Championships. The singles competition will be conducted May 23-28 at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex in Winston-Salem, N.C.
“All of these guys are going to be successful, especially our seniors,” concluded Mueller. “And for our returners, I think we are going to come back stronger next season.”
Tennis Match Results
Old Dominion vs. South Carolina
May 12, 2018 at Winston-Salem, N.C.
(Wake Forest Tennis Complex)
#29 South Carolina 4, #32 Old Dominion 1
Singles competition
- #59 Paul Jubb (SC) def. Adam Moundir (ODU) 6-3, 6-3
- #40 Gabriel Friedrich (SC) def. #117 Aziz Kijametovic (ODU) 7-5, 6-2
- Vincent Schneider (ODU) def. Thomas Mayronne (SC) 6-2, 6-1
- Yancy Dennis (SC) def. Francois Musitelli (ODU) 6-1, 6-1
- #50 Harrison O'Keefe (SC) vs. Jannik Giesse (ODU) 6-2, 5-7, 1-0, unfinished
- Wood Benton (SC) vs. Michael Weindl (ODU) 1-6, 6-1, 3-3, unfinished
Doubles competition
- Harrison O'Keefe/Yancy Dennis (SC) def. Aziz Kijametovic/Francois Musitelli (ODU) 7-5
- #58 Thomas Mayronne/Gabriel Friedrich (SC) def. Adam Moundir/Javier Jover Maestre (ODU) 7-5
- Vincent Schneider/Jannik Giesse (ODU) def. Wood Benton/Paul Jubb (SC) 6-3
Match Notes:
Old Dominion 19-7; National ranking #32
South Carolina 19-8; National ranking #29
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,3,1,2)
Official: Rebel Good