NORFOLK, Va. – The 22nd ranked Old Dominion women's tennis team ran their home court winning streak to 29 with a 6-1 victory over Penn on Sunday at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
Doubles saw the Monarchs go down to the final match before clinching the team point. After Penn won the number three match, the tandem of Alexandra Viktorovich and Sofia Johnson scored a 6-4 win at number two to even the doubles. The fifth-ranked duo of Yuliia Starodubtseva and Tatsiana Sasnouskaya scored a 7-5 win at number one to give the Monarchs an early 1-0 lead.
In singles, the Monarchs took wins in the top three spots to clinch the dual. Viktorovich started the run at number three with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Marija Curnic. Sasnouskaya, ranked 125th in the country, won 6-3, 6-1 at number two over Sabine Rutlaka to put the hosts up 3-0.
Starodubtseva, ranked 37th nationally, gave ODU the dual win with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over 86th ranked Iuliia Bryzgalova. Alesya Yakubovich pushed the ODU lead to 5-0 with a 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) win over Saige Roshkoff, before Penn pulled a three-set win at number five. Sofia Johnson finished the dual with a come-from-behind three-set win over Gavriella Smith 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (10-3).
ODU is now off until Sunday, March 6 when they tangle with another Ivy League member in Harvard at 1 p.m.
ODU HEAD COACH DOMINIC MANILLA ON THE PENN WIN
It was a solid weekend for the Monarchs. We had to overcome adverse emotions, but the team thrived. Hats off to Penn for pushing us to the limit in several spots. We will take a couple days to catch up on sleep and studies, but we are looking forward to Harvard next Sunday. Go Monarchs.
No. 22 Women's Tennis Run Home Streak to 29 With 6-1 Win Over Penn
