NORFOLK, Va. – Fresh off its 2023 Sun Belt Conference Championship, the 62nd-ranked Old Dominion men's tennis team learned its NCAA Tournament destination on Monday night and they're heading to Chapel Hill, N.C.
Old Dominion (18-9) will face 19th-ranked Utah (23-5) on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Chewning Tennis Center on the campus of regional top-seed North Carolina. A win by the Monarchs will put them against the winner of North Carolina and Drake on Sunday at 2 p.m.
"Seeing your name pop up and the guys' reaction is priceless. We haven't really crossed paths with Utah, but they're having an outstanding season making the Pac-12 Tournament final. It's a new environment, a new experience for the guys. We are going down to Chapel Hill ready for a heck of a match," said ODU Head Coach Dominik Mueller.
The Monarchs enter the event winners of their last seven matches and 10 of their last 11. ODU defeated South Alabama (4-2) in the Sun Belt Conference final on April 22. Cosme Rolland De Ravel leads the Monarchs in spring victories with a 17-6 record, while Jakob Cadonau and Francois Le Tallec have 14 wins each. In doubles, Le Tallec and Rolland De Ravel are 16-3 to lead the Monarchs.
Utah comes into the tournament after a second-place finish in the Pac-12 Tournament falling to USC 4-2 in Saturday's final. Geronimo Espin Busleiman leads the team in wins this spring with an 18-4 mark, while Francisco Bastias and Patrik Trhac have 17 wins each. In doubles, Bastias and Bruno Caula have won 17 matches to lead the team.
ODU and Utah have split two matches all-time with each winning on their home court. The Monarchs won 4-0 on March 2, 2018, while the Utes won 4-0 on March 1, 2019.
Men's Tennis Draws Utah In NCAA Tournament Opener Saturday
