NEWPORT BEACH, Cali - Yulia Starodubtseva and Alesya Yakubovich reached the Semifinals of the 2019 Oracle ITA National Fall Championships in Newport Beach, Cali. In the process, ODU’s unranked tandem downed the No. 3 nationally ranked duo in the Quarterfinals.
“I’m so happy that Yulia and Alesya are bringing a National Final Four appearance back to Old Dominion University and the great Hampton Roads tennis community,” said ODU head coach Dominic Manilla. “I’m most proud of the dedication it took to put themselves in this position. The truth sees that these women work as hard as they can physically and emotionally for Old Dominion University every single day. There was no shortcut, nothing lucky about them making it this far. Their strength of attitude the past few weeks could not be matched.”
In the Round of 32, Starodubtseva and Yakubovich straight-setted LSU’s Paris Corley and Taylor Bridges 6-1, 6-3.
In the Round of the 16, Starodubtseva and Yakubovich proved to be too much for N.C. State’s No. 8 seed Jaeda Daniel and Adriana Reami (6-4, 7-6(4)).
“These types of performances rise from the invisible forces that the academic staff, athletic trainers, players, coaches, and administrators; current and past, have dedicated themselves to embed in our culture at Old Dominion University,” Manilla continued. “It’s the invisible stuff that only the truth can see the detailed decision-making habits of a true competitor, of a true life champion, of an Old Dominion Monarch.”
In the Quarterfinals, ODU’s tandem took down the No. 3 nationally ranked duo in the land from UNC (Makenna Jones/Cameron Morra) in straight sets 7-5, 6-4, punching the Monarchs ticket to the National Semifinals.
In the Semifinals, Starodubtseva and Yakubovich met the No. 4 nationally ranked team from UCLA, Elysia Bolton and Jada Hart. It was Hart and Bolton who got the better of Starodubtseva/Yakubovich (6-2, 6-3). Bolton and Hart went onto win the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships Doubles Draw.
“Our long-term goals are coming into view on the horizon,” concluded Manilla. “There is no mountain too high for the Monarchs. We are inspired to climb and will relentlessly work towards our pursuit. This a positive way for our program to end our fall season and I look forward to our women’s tennis program representing our Old Dominion University while continuing to climb and make impact.”