Monarchs Down FAU 4-1 in Semis, ODU has Appeared in Four of League's Last Five Title Matches

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In the semifinals of the 2021 Conference USA Championships, the Old Dominion men's tennis team defeated Florida Atlantic by a 4-1 score on Saturday at Lifetime Fitness. The Monarchs have appeared in four of the last five league title matches, with ODU's lone C-USA championship coming in 2018.
 
"This was a very intense and fun dual match," ODU head coach Dominik Mueller said. "I am so proud of our guys, as we stayed composed and stepped up in big moments. We worked all season for this opportunity, and we are pumped for tomorrow."
 
For the second consecutive day, the Monarchs claimed the doubles point after receiving wins from No. 60 Luca Maldoner/Nicola Vidal (6-3) and Tomislav Podvinski/Pearse Dolan (6-4).
 
Francois Le Tallec made it a 2-0 advantage for Old Dominion after winning his singles match 6-1, 6-2. Vidal expanded ODU's lead to 3-1 with a 6-3, 6-3 victory, before Podvinski pushed the Monarchs through to the title match with a 6-3, 6-4 win.
 
No. 2 seed Old Dominion will square-off against No. 44 nationally ranked/No. 1 seed Middle Tennessee in the title match tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST. The winner of Sunday's match will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
 
ODU men's tennis has won two league titles in 1994 (CAA) and 2018 (C-USA), while the Monarchs received an at large bid to the NCAA tournament in 2007.
 
Saturday's match was pushed back four hours and moved indoors due to inclement weather in Charlotte.
 
The Monarchs (12-9) have claimed victory in eight of their last 10 matches, as well as 12 of their last 16 matches. In their last 10 matches, the Monarchs have outscored their opponents 39-17.
 
For more information on the 2021 Conference USA Men's Tennis Championships, please visit: Conference USA Championship Central.
 
Tennis Match Results
Florida Atlantic vs Old Dominion
4-24-2021 at Charlotte, N.C.
(Lifetime Fitness)
Old Dominion 4, Florida Atlantic 1
 
Singles competition
1. Luca Maldoner (ODU) vs. Maxime Lapraille (FAU) 7-5, 3-2, unfinished
2. Tomislav Podvinski (ODU) def. Kevin Huempfner (FAU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Nicola Vidal (ODU) def. A. Fernandez Horta (FAU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Francois Le Tallec (ODU) def. Filip Krolo (FAU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Younes Lalami (ODU) vs. Gerard Escandell (FAU) 2-6, 4-4, unfinished
6. Finn Stodder (FAU) def. Pearse Dolan (ODU) 6-4, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. #60 Luca Maldoner/Nicola Vidal (ODU) def. Maxime Lapraille/Filip Krolo (FAU) 6-3
2. Younes Lalami/Francois Le Tallec (ODU) vs. Kevin Huempfner/Hunter Robbins (FAU) 5-4, unfinished
3. Tomislav Podvinski/Pearse Dolan (ODU) def. A. Fernandez Horta/Finn Stodder (FAU) 6-4

Match Notes:
Florida Atlantic 9-11
Old Dominion 12-9
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,6,3,2)