ATLANTA, Ga. – The Old Dominion women's tennis team took the final three singles matches, all in three-set affairs, to score an impressive 4-3 win over 12th-ranked Georgia Tech in the opening round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend at the Ken Byers Complex on Saturday morning.
ODU (2-0) will face the winner of 14th-ranked Michigan and Ole Miss on Sunday afternoon for the right to go to the ITA Indoor Championships in two weeks at the University of Wisconsin.
"A great victory for the team today. We prepared for this match with great focus and attitude the past two weeks. I really feel great for the team today. When hard work pays off it's a sweet feeling," said ODU Head Coach Dominic Manilla.
In doubles, the Yellow Jackets scored wins at number two (6-1) and number three (6-3) to take the team point. At number one, in a battle of top 12 ranked opponents, the third-ranked tandem of Yuliia Starodubtseva and Tatsiana Sasnouskaya were ahead of 12th-ranked Kylie Bilchev and Ava Hrastar 5-1 when the point was clinched.
Singles matches saw the Yellow Jackets take a 2-0 lead after a win at number four, before Sasnouskaya got the Monarchs on the board with a win over 38th-ranked Bilchev 6-3, 6-0. Georgia Tech regained the lead after a win at number three singles, but Sofia Johnson started the ODU comeback with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 win at number five singles as ODU trailed 3-2.
Starodubtseva evened the dual for the Monarchs rallying after losing the opening set 7-6 (8-6) to take the final two 6-1, 6-4 over the 69th-ranked Hrastar. Alesya Yakubovich sealed the win for the Monarchs scoring a 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 win at number six singles over Monika Dedaj.
"Alesya's experience gave her great composure in a pressure cooker this afternoon. Her dedication to the team and her teammates is unwavering. I tip my hat to her today," said Manilla.
Women's Tennis Knocks Off 12th-Ranked Georgia Tech At ITA Kickoff
