Women's Tennis Opens Sun Belt Conference Play With 4-0 Win At Louisiana

LAFAYETTE, La. – The 24th-ranked Old Dominion women's tennis team began Sun Belt Conference play on Friday with a 4-0 victory over Louisiana.
 
The match was delayed at the start for three hours due to rain, but once the weather cleared the Monarchs got the ball rolling with wins at the two and three spots of doubles for the team point.
 
Playing a different lineup in doubles, the Monarchs got a win at line two from Alesya Yakubovich and Shahar Biran winning 6-0. After Louisiana won at line one, Sofia Johnson and Mya Byrd got the clincher with a 7-5 win at line three to give ODU (6-4, 1-0) a 1-0 lead.
 
Singles got going for ODU with sophomore Sofia Johnson moving into the top spot for the first time in her career and giving the Monarchs a 2-0 lead with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Lucie Raquin. Biran followed with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Carla Urchoegula at line two.
 
Alexandra Viktorovitch had the clinching win for ODU on Friday with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 win over Cristina Tchanichev at line four for the 4-0 win. Allison Isaacs was one point away leading 7-6 in the second set tiebreaker after winning set one 6-4 at line five.
 
"That was a weird match. We had to battle through a lot of stuff that we just weren't used to and quite frankly wasn't expecting," said ODU Head Coach Dominic Manilla. "I'm happy to get the win, but we all need to reflect and learn a lot from this."
 
ODU heads to San Marcos, Texas for a Sunday morning match against Texas State at 11 am ET.
 
Tennis Match Results
Old Dominion vs Louisiana
3/10/2023 at Lafayette, La.
(Cajun Courts)
#24 Old Dominion 4, Louisiana 0
Singles
1. Sofia Johnson (ODU-W) def. Lucie Raquin (LA) 6-3, 6-1
2. Shahar Biran (ODU-W) def. Carla Urchoeguia (LA) 6-3, 7-5
3. Angelique Berrat (LA) vs. Alesya Yakubovich (ODU-W) 4-6, 6-4, 4-5, unfinished
4. Alexandra Viktorovich (ODU-W) def. Cristina Tchanichev (LA) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
5. Momoko Yoshimura (LA) vs. Allison Isaacs (ODU-W) 4-6, 6-6 (6-7), unfinished
6. Laure-Line Monnoyer (LA) vs. Mya Byrd (ODU-W) 3-6, 7-5, unfinished
Doubles 
1. Carla Urchoeguia/Angelique Berrat (LA) def. Alexandra Viktorovitch/Allison Isaacs (ODU-W) 6-0
2. Alesya Yakubovich/Shahar Biran (ODU-W) def. Angel Santiago/Momoko Yoshimura (LA) 6-0
3. Sofia Johnson/Mya Byrd (ODU-W) def. Cristina Tchanichev/Lucie Raquin (LA) 7-5
Match Notes:
Old Dominion 6-4, 1-0; National ranking #24
Louisiana 4-4, 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,2,4)
T-3:15 A-89