GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 17th-ranked Old Dominion University women's tennis team started its Florida swing on Thursday night by dropping a 4-2 decision to 13th-ranked University of Florida.
In doubles, the Gators took wins at number two and three to take the team point. Old Dominion took the top spot in a battle between nationally-ranked tandems. ODU's third-ranked duo of Yuliia Starodubtseva and Tatsiana Sasnouskaya defeated the 34th-ranked duo of Carly Briggs and Marlee Zein 6-3.
In singles, the Monarchs got wins at the number six and three spots in the lineup. At six, Alesya Yakubovich scored a 6-2, 6-3 win over Bente Spee to get the first singles point. At number three, in a battle of two nationally-ranked opponents, 106th-ranked Alexandra Viktorovich defeated the 34th-ranked Zein 6-4, 7-6 (10-8).
Old Dominion (3-1) now heads to Coral Gables to tangle with the 20th-ranked Hurricanes of the University of Miami on Saturday at noon.
DOMINIC MANILLA ON THE MATCH
"I am proud of the way we fought. When you are good and lose it feels like 10 losses, but that's what every single one of us signed up for to be part of the ODU women's tennis program. Hats off to the Gators for a fantastic college tennis match today. Can't wait for our next one."
FLORIDA 4, OLD DOMINION 2
SINGLES
1. McCartney Kessler (UF) def. #71 Yuliia Starodubtseva (ODU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
2. Alicia Dudeney (UF) def. #116 Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (ODU) 6-3, 6-3
3. #106 AlexandraViktorovich (ODU) def. #34 Marlee Zein (UF) 6-4, 7-6 (10-8)
4. #87 Emma Shelton (UF) vs. Marina Alcaide (ODU) 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 0-1, unfinished
5. Carly Briggs (UF) def. Sofia Johnson (ODU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Alesya Yakubovich (ODU) def. Bente Spee (UF) 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES
1. #3 Tatsiana Sasnouskaya/Yuliia Starodubtseva (ODU) def. #34 Carly Briggs/Marlee Zein (UF) 6-3
2. #46 Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee (UF) def. Shahar Biran/Marina Alcaide (ODU) 6-3
3. McCartney Kessler/Emma Shelton (UF) def. Alesya Yakubovich/AlexandraViktorovich (ODU) 6-4
Match Notes:
Old Dominion 3-1; National ranking #17
Florida 5-0; National ranking #13
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,2,5,3,1)
A-76