KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Old Dominion women’s tennis team (7-1) rallied from 1-0 and 3-2 deficits to stun No. 24 nationally ranked Tennessee (3-2) by a 4-3 score on Sunday afternoon at the Goodfriend Tennis Center.
“We fought so hard as a team today,” said ODU head coach Dominic Manilla. “I was so proud of everyone. When we secured the fourth point and we all came together, the feelings we shared as a team is something I’ll never forget. We have a tough schedule ahead of us. We will use this victory as motivation to keep moving forward and to keep getting better."
After dropping the doubles point, ODU freshman Alesya Yakubovich tied the match at 1-1 after making quick work out of Maia Haumuller (6-3, 6-3).
Nataliia Vlasova gave the Monarchs a 2-1 advantage after downing Kaitlin Staines in No. 2 singles (7-6, 6-1).
The Volunteers answered with victories on Courts No. 4 and 5, giving UT a 3-2 lead.
After dropping the first set, Holly Hutchinson came up big in No. 1 singles, defeating Sadie Hammond (4-6, 7-5, 6-1), tying the match at 3-3.
It all came down to Court No. 3, where ODU’s freshman Oleksanda Andrieieva lost the first set, only to come back and win sets two and three over Ariadna Riley (2-6, 7-5, 6-1), propelling Old Dominion to a 4-3 victory over No. 24 Tennessee in Knoxville on Sunday.
The Monarchs will return home on Friday, Feb. 15, when Old Dominion will welcome Maryland to the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center for an 11:00 a.m. start. Admission for all is free.
Tennis Match Results
Old Dominion University vs Tennessee
Feb 10, 2019 at Knoxville, Tenn.
(Goodfriend Tennis Center)
Old Dominion University 4, #24 Tennessee 3
Singles competition
1. Holly Hutchinson (ODU) def. Sadie Hammond (UT) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
2. Nataliia Vlasova (ODU) def. Kaitlin Staines (UT) 7-6, 6-1
3. Oleksanda Andrieieva (ODU) def. Ariadna Riley (UT) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
4. Johanna Silva (UT) def. Yulia Starodubtseva (ODU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
5. Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. Brooke Pilkington (ODU) 7-6, 6-2
6. Alesya Yakubovich (ODU) def. Maia Haumuller (UT) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #17 Sadie Hammond/Kaitlin Staines (UT) def. Holly Hutchinson/Brooke Pilkington (ODU) 6-2
2. Tenika McGiffin/Maia Haumuller (UT) def. Yulia Starodubtseva/Oleksanda Andrieieva (ODU) 6-3
3. Ariadna Riley/Rebeka Mertena (UT) dnf. Nataliia Vlasova/Natalya Malenko (ODU) 5-4
Match Notes:
Old Dominion University 7-1
Tennessee 3-2; National ranking #24
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (6,2,5,4,1,3)