NORFOLK, Va. – In a battle of nationally-ranked teams Sunday morning, the 71st-ranked Old Dominion men's tennis team picked up a win over 69th-ranked Georgia Southern 4-2 in a Sun Belt Conference match at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
"Beating a ranked team is always great. Georgia Southern had won 10 in a row coming into the match and we knew it would be a challenge," said ODU Head Coach Dominik Mueller. "We really started to capitalize on the momentum from doubles and it was good to see four first-set wins and not letting go of that energy.
In doubles, the Monarchs got the first win as 68th-ranked Younes Lalami and Brandon Perez took a 6-0 win at line one. Jakob Cadonau and Luca Maldoner gave ODU the 1-0 lead with a 6-2 win at line two.
Singles saw Georgia Southern (13-4, 2-1) get the first point at line six, but ODU responded with wins at the top two spots. Lalami trailed 4-1 in his first set then proceded to win 11 of the next 12 games to take a 6-4, 6-1 win at the top. Francois Le Tallec followed with a 6-2, 6-3 win at line two to put ODU up 3-1.
The Eagles took a win at line four, but Cosme Rolland De Ravel got the clincher with a 7-5, 6-1 win at line three for the 4-2 victory.
"It will be exciting to welcome Liberty on Wednesday in another battle of nationally-ranked teams to close out the non-conference schedule," said Mueller.
ODU will host the Flames on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
Tennis Match Results
Georgia Southern vs Old Dominion
3/26/2023 at Norfolk, Va.
(Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center)
#71 Old Dominion 4, #69 Georgia Southern 2
Singles competition
1. Younes Lalami (ODU-M) def. Pol del Castillo (GS) 6-4, 6-1
2. Francois Le Tallec (ODU-M) def. Aaron Williams (GS) 6-2, 6-3
3. CosmeRollandDeRavel (ODU-M) def. Pierre Mouesca (GS) 7-5, 6-1
4. Dimitiris Paliouras (GS) def. Codie van Schalkwyk (ODU-M) 6-2, 6-1
5. Jakob Cadonau (ODU-M) vs. Judson Blair (GS) 6-3, 4-5, unfinished
6. Alexandros Roumpis (GS) def. Brandon Perez (ODU-M) 6-3, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #68 Younes Lalami/Brandon Perez (ODU-M) def. Pol del Castillo/Aaron Williams (GS) 6-0
2. Jakob Cadonau/Luca Maldoner (ODU-M) def. Alexandros Roumpis/Valentin Dun (GS) 6-2
3. Francois Le Tallec/CosmeRollandDeRavel (ODU-M) vs. Judson Blair/Pierre Mouesca (GS) 4-3, unfinished
Match Notes:
Georgia Southern 13-4/2-1; National ranking #69
Old Dominion 11-8/3-1; National ranking #71
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (6,1,2,4,3)
Men's Tennis Knocks Off 69th-ranked Georgia Southern 4-2
Cosme Rolland De Ravel