NORFOLK, Va. – The 70th-ranked Old Dominion women's tennis team clinched the 2024 Sun Belt Regular Season Championship on Saturday with a thrilling 4-3 win over Georgia Southern at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
"We are fortunate to earn the win today. Georgia Southern really brought it to Norfolk this weekend and they have a great program. We were all frustrated after a low energy doubles point, but I'm happy with how we responded. This weekend was extremely windy and we were challenged both days. I feel we toughened up a bit and are eager to keep moving forward," said ODU Head Coach Dominic Manilla.
The regular season title is the second in a row for ODU in the Sun Belt and extends a conference match winning streak to 28 in a row dating back to 2018.
Georgia Southern (16-4, 5-3) took the doubles point with wins at the No. 2 (6-4) and No. 3 (6-2) spots to claim the early 1-0 lead.
Old Dominion (13-5, 9-0) started singles with Lidiia Rasskouskaia taking a 6-1, 6-2 win over Mackenzie Leopold at No. 4 to even the match. The alternating of wins followed as Georgia Southern took No. 6 singles in a 6-3, 6-4 decision to regain the lead at 2-1. Kira Matushkina leveled the match back at 2-2 with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Nanaka Kijima at No. 5.
The Eagles regained the advantage in a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 1, but ODU responded in a win by Alexandra Viktorovitch over Silvia Martinez 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 at No. 2 for a 3-3 score. Allison Isaacs finished the match with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Lindsay Tulenko to take the 4-3 victory.
ODU now heads to App State next Saturday to close out the regular season.
Tennis Match Results
Georgia Southern vs Old Dominion
4/13/2024 at Norfolk, Va.
(Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center)
#70 Old Dominion 4, Georgia Southern 3
Singles competition
1. Ninon Martinache (GS) def. #122 Sofia Johnson (ODU-W) 6-3, 6-4
2. Alexandra Viktorovich (ODU-W) def. Silvia Martinez (GS) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
3. Allison Isaacs (ODU-W) def. Lindsay Tulenko (GS) 6-2, 6-3
4. Lidiia Rasskouskaia (ODU-W) def. Mackenzie Leopold (GS) 6-1, 6-2
5. Kira Matushkina (ODU-W) def. Nanaka Kijima (GS) 6-1, 7-5
6. Paula Hijos (GS) def. Ulyana Romanova (ODU-W) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Sofia Johnson/Lidiia Rasskouskaia (ODU-W) vs. Ninon Martinache/Sonja Keranen (GS) 4-5, unfinished
2. Silvia Martinez/Lindsay Tulenko (GS) def. Ulyana Romanova/Alexandra Viktorovich (ODU-W) 6-4
3. Sophie Wagemaker/Mackenzie Leopold (GS) def. Allison Isaacs/Kira Matushkina (ODU-W) 6-2
Match Notes:
Georgia Southern 16-4, 5-3
Old Dominion 13-5, 9-0; National ranking #70
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,6,5,1,2,3)
Women’s Tennis Clinches Regular Season Title With Thrilling 4-3 Win Over Georgia Southern
