CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – For the third year in a row, the Old Dominion women's tennis team started NCAA Regional action with a big win on Friday afternoon.
Tatsiana Sasounskaya, ranked 33rd nationally, clinched the match with a win over 12th-ranked Ayana Akli 7-5, 6-4 as 34th-ranked Old Dominion defeated 31st-ranked South Carolina 4-2 at the Chewning Tennis Center.
With the win, ODU (19-4) will advance to face North Carolina (30-1) who defeated Charleston Southern 4-0 in the other match on Friday. That match will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
"We came out today with a 'to-do list' attitude. We really executed at the positions and the moments we needed to," said ODU Head Coach Dominic Manilla. "All players contributed to today's stellar win and we are looking forward to the opportunity to face North Carolina in the second round."
Doubles opened the match with the Monarchs taking wins at the one and three spots. The first victory went to line three where Alesya Yakubovich and Shahar Biran scored a 6-1 win over Ana Cruz and Allie Gretkowski.
The point was clinched at the top where the 42nd-ranked duo of Sasnouskaya and Sofia Johnson knocked off the 33rd-ranked duo of Akli and Sarah Hamner 6-4 for an early 1-0 ODU lead.
Singles started off with South Carolina (13-11) getting the first point at line five, but Biran put ODU back up with a 6-4, 6-2 win at line three over Gracie Mulville. Allison Isaacs pushed the ODU lead to 3-1 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Gretkowski at line six.
South Carolina took a win at line four, but Sasnouskaya won the game on her serve in the second set as the Monarchs advanced. The win is her sixth over a nationally-ranked opponent this season and the highest since a win in the fall over the third-ranked player from Princeton.
Tennis Match Results
NCAA Regionals
Old Dominion vs South Carolina
5/5/2023 at Chapel Hill, N.C.
#33 Old Dominion 4, #31 South Carolina 2
Singles competition
1. #33 Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (ODU-W) def. #12 Ayana Akli (SC) 7-5, 6-4
2. #25 Sarah Hamner (SC) vs. Sofia Johnson (ODU-W) 4-6, 6-2, 4-0, unfinished
3. Shahar Biran (ODU-W) def. Gracie Mulville (SC) 6-4, 6-2
4. Misa Malkin (SC) def. Alesya Yakubovich (ODU-W) 6-4, 6-3
5. Elise Mills (SC) def. Alexandra Viktorovich (ODU-W) 6-3, 6-3
6. Allison Isaacs (ODU-W) def. Allie Gretkowski (SC) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #42 Sofia Johnson/Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (ODU-W) def. #33 Ayana Akli/Sarah Hamner (SC) 6-4
2. Allison Isaacs/Alexandra Viktorovich (ODU-W) led Gracie Mulville/Elise Mills (SC) vs. 5-2, unfinished
3. Alesya Yakubovich/Shahar Biran (ODU-W) def. Ana Cruz/Allie Gretkowski (SC) 6-1
Match Notes:
Old Dominion 19-4; National ranking #33
South Carolina 13-11; National ranking #31
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (5,3,6,4,1)
Women's Tennis Wins NCAA Opener 4-2 Over South Carolina
Tatsiana Sasnouskaya