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No. 29 ODU Wins First Ever Match in NCAA Tournament, Downs No. 33 Arkansas 4-2

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No. 29 ODU Wins First Ever Match in NCAA Tournament, Downs No. 33 Arkansas 4-2No. 29 ODU Wins First Ever Match in NCAA Tournament, Downs No. 33 Arkansas 4-2
Bruce Butler

Dominic Manilla and Alesya Yakubovich

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 29 nationally ranked Old Dominion women's tennis picked up its first win in program history in the NCAA Tournament after taking down No. 33 Arkansas by a 4-2 score in the first round on Friday morning inside of the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. ODU has now won 11 straight matches, while outscoring its opponents 55-13 during the win streak.
 
"This match was a rollercoaster," said ODU head coach Dominic Manilla. "We were prepared for the situation after dropping the doubles point, I thought all six of our singles players stepped up. This was a fantastic team effort. We were one of the best teams in the country today."
 
Brooke Pilkington/Alexandra Viktorovich defeated Kelly Keller/Jackie Carr 7-5; but the Monarchs fell in No. 1 and 2 doubles, as the Razorbacks (11-11) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead.
 
No. 78 Tatsiana Sasnouskaya tied the match at 1-1 after taking down Tatum Rice (6-3, 6-3). Alesya Yakubovich gave the Monarchs their first lead of the day, 2-1, after picking up a straight set win over Morgan Cross (6-1, 6-3).
 
Pilkington proved to be too much for Lauren Alter (6-4, 6-4), extending Old Dominion's lead to 3-1. Fellow senior No. 109 Holly Hutchinson sealed the deal on the victory with a 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 win over No. 45 Indianna Spink.
 
Old Dominion (13-4) will be right back in action tomorrow, Saturday, May 8 when the Monarchs take on No. 1 nationally ranked North Carolina. Tomorrow's match against UNC in Chapel Hill will start at 4 p.m. EST.
 
"The tournament goes through the number one team in the country North Carolina," concluded Manilla.
 
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Live Stats: CLICK HERE
 
For an official look at the 2021 DI Women's Tennis Championship official bracket, CLICK HERE.
 
Tennis Match Results
Arkansas vs Old Dominion
May 07, 2021 at Chapel Hill, N.C.
(Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center)
 
#29 Old Dominion 4, #33 Arkansas 2
 
Singles competition
1. #109 Holly Hutchinson (ODU) def. #45 Indianna Spink (AR) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
2. Kelly Keller (AR) def. #51 Yulia Starodubtseva (ODU) 6-4, 6-4
3. #78 Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (ODU) def. Tatum Rice (AR) 6-3, 6-3
4. Alesya Yakubovich (ODU) def. Morgan Cross (AR) 6-1, 6-3
5. Brooke Pilkington (ODU) def. Lauren Alter (AR) 6-4, 6-4
6. Alexandra Viktorovich (ODU) vs. Laura Rijkers (AR) 4-6, 6-4, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. #36 Morgan Cross/Tatum Rice (AR) def. Yulia Starodubtseva/Alesya Yakubovich (ODU) 6-4
2. Lauren Alter/Indianna Spink (AR) def. #71 Holly Hutchinson/Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (ODU) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Brooke Pilkington/Alexandra Viktorovich (ODU) def. Kelly Keller/Jackie Carr (AR) 7-5
 
Match Notes:
Arkansas 11-11; National ranking #33
Old Dominion 13-4; National ranking #29
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,4,5,2,1)
NCAA Championship First Round
T-2:45
A-25