RICHMOND, Va. – The No. 37 nationally ranked Old Dominion women's tennis team (6-4) was too much for VCU (6-7) by a 5-2 score on Saturday afternoon at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. The Tennis Monarchs have won five of their last six matches, as well as four in a row, while outscoring their opponents 23-5 during the win streak. Three of ODU's four singles victories came in straight sets on Saturday.
"I was pretty pumped, I thought that we competed really well at every spot," said ODU head coach Dominic Manilla. "It was a dominate performance from Tatsiana Sasnouskaya, having to slide up and play number 2 in singles. I'm really pleased the way all of our players stepped up without Yulia Starodubtseva in singles."
Holly Hutchinson/Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (6-0) and Brooke Pilkington/Alexandra Viktorovich (6-2) secured the doubles point for Old Dominion.
In singles, Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (6-1, 6-1), Alesya Yakubovich (7-6, 4-6, 10-4), Brooke Pilkington (7-5, 6-2) and Alexandra Viktorovich (6-0, 6-2) claimed victories for the Monarchs.
Current ODU associate head coach, Yana Sokolenko, spent a total of seven years as the associate head coach at VCU. Sokolenko also played her college tennis for the Rams from 1999-2002.
Old Dominion will return to action on Sunday, March 21, when the Monarchs welcome Norfolk State to the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center for an 11 a.m. start. All ODU tennis matches are closed to the general public due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The latest edition of the Dominic Manilla Coach's Show was released earlier this week, as coach Manilla and Ted Alexander talk all things Old Dominion women's tennis. To watch the newest edition of Dominic Manilla Coach's Show, please CLICK HERE.
Monarch Fan Cutouts
The "Monarch Cutouts", presented by Chartway, are available for $59 and will be in attendance at all home ODU tennis matches for the 2021 season.
To order a fan cutout, click here.
FOLLOW ODU WOMEN'S TENNIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow @ODUWomensTennis on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on the Monarchs.
Tennis Match Results
Old Dominion vs VCU Women's Tennis
3/13/2021 at Richmond, Va.
(Thalhimer Tennis Center)
#37 Old Dominion 5, VCU 2
Singles competition
1. #116 Paola Diaz Delgado (VCU) def. #40 Holly Hutchinson (ODU) 6-3, 5-7, 10-2
2. Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (ODU) def. Alessia Ciuca (VCU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Alesya Yakubovich (ODU) def. Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) 7-6 (12-10), 4-6, 10-4
4. Brooke Pilkington (ODU) def. Gabriela Davidescu (VCU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Noumea Witmus (VCU) def. Shahar Biran (ODUW) 6-4, 6-4
6. Alexandra Viktorovich (ODU) def. Shivani Manjanna (VCU) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Alessia Ciuca/Gabriela Davidescu (VCU) vs. Yulia Starodubtseva/Alesya Yakubovich (ODU) 3-3, unfinished
2. Holly Hutchinson/Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (ODU) def. Paola Diaz Delgado/Noumea Witmus (VCU) 6-0
3. Brooke Pilkington/Alexandra Viktorovich (ODU) def. Shivani Manjanna/Lara Van der Merwe (VCU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Old Dominion 6-4; National ranking #37
VCU 6-7
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,2,5,4,1,3)
No. 37 Tennis Monarchs Slam the Rams in Richmond, 5-2
