CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The 64th-ranked Old Dominion men's tennis team dropped its NCAA Tournament match on Saturday to 17th-ranked Utah 4-1 at the Chewning Tennis Center.
In doubles, ODU (18-10) opened with a flurry taking wins at the one and two spots while leading at three when match completed. At two, Jakob Cadonau and Luca Maldoner recorded a 6-1 win over Geronimo Busleiman and Franco Capalbo. Line one gave ODU the team point as Brandon Perez and Younes Lalami knocked off the 49th-ranked duo of Berk Bugarikj and Patrik Trhac 6-3.
Singles saw Utah (24-5) take wins at one, two, three and six to win the match.
"Congrats to Utah, they showed in singles why they were 17th in country and barely missed out on hosting," said ODU Head Coach Dominik Mueller. "What a doubles point, we came out on fire and had 20-25 fans from Norfolk to cheer us on. It was a real home match atmosphere for the first 30 minutes today. I told the guys to remember that atmosphere and how it set the tone. I wish we could've carried that momentum into singles play, but overall really proud of their efforts today."
The Monarchs finished the season with wins in seven of their last eight matches and 10 of their last 12, including its first Sun Belt Tournament championship.
Tennis Match Results
Old Dominion vs Utah
5/6/2023 at Chapel Hill, N.C.
(Chewning Tennis Center)
#17 Utah 4, #64 Old Dominion 1
Singles competition
1. #38 Busleiman, Geronimo (UTAH) def. Younes Lalami (ODU) 6-2, 6-4
2. #96 Capalbo, Franco (UTAH) def. Francois Le Tallec (ODU) 6-4, 6-0
3. #108 Bastias, Francisco (UTAH) def. Cosme Rolland De Ravel (ODU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Caula, Bruno (UTAH) vs. Jakob Cadonau (ODU) 7-6 (7-5), 3-2, unfinished
5. Bugarikj, Berk (UTAH) vs. Luca Maldoner (ODU) 7-5, 5-4, unfinished
6. Trhac, Patrik (UTAH) def. Nicola Vidal (ODU) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Younes Lalami/Brandon Perez (ODU) def. #49 Bugarikj, Berk/Trhac, Patrik (UTAH) 6-3
2. Luca Maldoner/Jakob Cadonau (ODU) def. Capalbo, Franco/Busleiman, Geronimo (UTAH) 6-1
3. Bastias, Francisco/Caula, Bruno (UTAH) vs. Francois Le Tallec/Cosme Rolland De Ravel (ODU) 3-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
Old Dominion 18-10; National ranking #64
Utah 24-5; National ranking #17
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (3,2,1,6)
T-2:09
Men's Tennis Season Ends In 4-1 Loss To Utah At NCAA Tournament
