Women's Tennis Opens Sun Belt Play Saturday Hosting Marshall

#71 ODU (4-5) vs. Marshall (9-5)
Where: Norfolk, Va. – Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center
When: 10 a.m.
Series Record (dating back to 2000): Marshall 7-5
Last Meeting: ODU 5-2, Mar. 17, 2023
Live Stats: here
 
NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion women's tennis will begin Sun Belt Conference action on Saturday morning hosting Marshall at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center. This is the league opener for both teams.
 
Both teams have been, or currently are, ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings announced on Tuesday. The Herd was ranked earlier this season, while the Monarchs entered the rankings this week at No. 71.
 
"Marshall has a gritty culture and gets results. They are one of the best coached teams we face throughout the year, so we expect a battle on all fronts," said ODU Head Coach Dominic Manilla.
 
Last year's match saw the Monarchs take the doubles point with wins at the one and three spots, then ran off four straight sets wins in singles for a 5-2 win on the road.
 
ODU (4-5) returns to action after splitting a nationally-ranked road trip. They defeated No. 47 VCU 4-3 on Feb. 28 as freshman Ulyana Romanova won the clinching match at No. 5 singles 1-6, 7-6, 6-2. The Monarchs dropped a 4-2 decision at No. 33 Princeton on March 1 as Romanova won the lone singles point after ODU took the doubles. For her efforts on that road trip, Romanova was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week on Wednesday.
 
Lidiia Rasskouskaia leads the team in singles wins this spring with seven, while Romanova and Sofia Johnson have five. In doubles, Kira Matushkina and Romanova are 5-1 to lead the team.
 
Marshall (9-5) has Johanna Strom and Emma Vanderheyden leading them in singles wins this spring with seven. Those two are the leading doubles duo with six wins at the top spot for the Herd.
 
The Herd has a pair of ACC wins over Virginia Tech and Louisville this year. They have lost their last two matches to Illinois (4-0) and Maryland (5-2).
 
The Monarchs will hit the road next week to visit Southern Miss on March 16 and South Alabama on March 18.