NORFOLK, Va. – The 24th-ranked Old Dominion women's tennis team will head into new territory this weekend as they begin their first Sun Belt Conference schedule. On Friday they'll visit Louisiana and Sunday will tangle with Texas State. Both matches will start at 11 a.m. EST.
"It is new for us to have a regular season conference schedule, so it is exciting," said ODU Head Coach Dominic Manilla. "The Sun Belt offers a large base of schools that are in climates perfect for their tennis programs to grow and compete on the national level. The addition of the new members only enhanced the level. I see the Sun Belt as a multi-bid league in the near future."
ODU (5-4) enters after losing to 17th-ranked Kansas 4-3 on Sunday. Coming off her third Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honor this week, Tatsiana Sasnouskaya is 5-3 at the number one spot this spring, while Shahar Biran is 5-2 primarily at number three. In doubles, Sofia Johnson and Tatsiana Sasnouskaya are 5-2 at the top spot.
In the latest national rankings released on Tuesday, Sasnouskaya is 21st in singles, the team is 24th, while Sasnouskaya and Johnson are 29th.
Louisiana (4-3) starts conference play after a 5-2 win over McNeese on March 2. The Ragin' Cajuns have three players in singles with four wins with Angelique Berrat (4-2), Cristina Tchanichev (4-3) and Carla Urchoegula (4-3) leading the way. In doubles, Momoko Yoshimura and Angel Santiago are 3-1 at the number two spot, while Urchoegula and Berrat arer 3-2 at the top spot.
Texas State (4-5) faces James Madison on Friday before hosting ODU on Sunday. The Bobcats are led in singles by Kate Malazonia who is 6-3 at the number three spot, while Sofia Fortuno is 5-1 at the number six spot. In doubles, Malazonia and Mae McCutcheon are 4-5 at the top spot.
"Louisiana has strong depth and Texas State just had a tough match with St. John's. This will be our first outdoor matches and it is supposed to be hot. We will need to be sharp," said Manilla.
ODU will conclude a three-match conference road swing on March 17 at Marshall.
Women's Tennis Begins Sun Belt Conference Play Facing Louisiana and Texas State This Weekend
Shahar Biran