NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference announced its 2024 Women's Tennis postseason awards on Tuesday afternoon and the top-seeded Old Dominion Monarchs came away with a clean sweep.
Junior Sofia Johnson was named Player of the Year along with earning first team doubles and singles honors, Lidiia Rasskouskaia earned Player to Watch and Newcomer of the Year while joining Johnson on first team doubles. Ulyana Romanova was named Freshman of the Year and head coach Dominic Manilla was named Coach of the Year. Graduate student Alexandra Viktorovitch joined the group earning first team honors in singles.
Sofia Johnson
Player of the Year
First Team Singles
First Team Doubles
Currently 19-8 in singles going 7-2 in league play all at No. 1 in the lineup. She debuted in national rankings at #122 on April 9 and moved up to #118 on April 16. Johnson had a nine-match winning streak from Feb. 10 to April 7 which included wins over Ole Miss, Florida State, Iowa State (2), Kansas, VCU among others. She won consecutive Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honors to start the season. In doubles, she is 12-4 with Lidiia Rasskouskaia having wins over Florida State, Penn State, Iowa State, VCU and Princeton.
Manilla on Johnson
"Sofia deserves this. She has devoted herself to improving each day as evidenced by her career here at ODU. Since the day Sofia stepped on campus, we knew she would be a special player. Sofia has only added to our legacy and enriched Old Dominion women's tennis on and off the court."
Lidiia Rasskouskaia
Player to Watch
Newcomer of the Year
First Team Doubles
Joined the squad in the second semester and has blistered her way to a 16-1 record in singles this year mainly at the four/five spots in the lineup. She opened her collegiate career with a three-set win at Florida State and won her first seven matches. Rasskouskaia is currently on a nine-match winning streak only losing two sets in conference play. In doubles, she is 12-4 with Sofia Johnson having wins over Florida State, Penn State, Iowa State, VCU and Princeton.
Manilla on Rasskouskaia
"Lidiia is an incredible tennis player. She is amongst the most talented players we have had the fortune to coach. She competes with character and great composure. I'm extremely proud to have Lidiia on our team and she is going to achieve great things here at ODU."
Ulyana Romanova
Freshman of the Year
Romanova is 14-4 this spring mainly at No. 6 after joining the team to start the second semester. She had a 14-match winning streak from Feb. 4 to April 12 and went 9-1 in league play…Has non-league wins over Iowa State (2), Penn State, Kansas, Princeton, VCU. Her win at VCU was the match clincher as ODU, playing one person down due to illness, defeated the then 47th-ranked Rams 4-3 which helped earn her Sun Belt Player of the Week honors.
Manilla on Romanova
"Ulyana has come out her shell and has been a great addition to our team! She is extremely funny and clearly an amazing tennis player. Ulya has stepped up for us this year time and time again and under some tough circumstances. I couldn't be prouder of Ulya and how hard she competed for her team. Congrats Ulya!"
Alexandra Viktorovitch
First Team Singles
Viktorovitch is 17-9 overall in singles and went 10-0 in league play mainly at No. 2 in the lineup. She hasn't lost a set in Sun Belt play this season and had non-conference wins over Penn State, VCU (2), Va. Tech, N.C. State, Ole Miss and Iowa State.
Manilla on Viktorovitch
"This is a very fitting way for Alex to be recognized at the end of her career. I am so happy for her."
Dominic Manilla
Coach of the Year
Manilla led his Monarchs to a second straight undefeated league regular season. Old Dominion hasn't lost a conference match since 2018 and has not lost a Sun Belt Conference match (regular season or tournament) since joining the league. Down to five healthy bodies for a three-week stretch, the Monarchs went 3-1 with wins over nationally-ranked VCU (4-3), Marshall (5-2) and Southern Miss (4-2). One of his younger teams, the Monarchs have been nationally-ranked for the last month peaking at No. 66.
Manilla on honor
"It's nice to have your work recognized but there are countless individuals that make this happen. Coach Yana Sokolenko, Coach Lauren Bethely, Amy Lynch, Rachelle Bowman, Scott Johnson, Jim Heath, Samantha Mitchell, Bruce Stewart, Rick French, Nicole Turner and the entire business staff keep this team moving forward each day. The entire department should be recognized. The athletic department at ODU has produced an amazing tennis program. I'm thankful to be the head coach under Dr. Selig. I'm proud of the work we have done and what we have all accomplished together. Go Monarchs!"
ODU will open Sun Belt Tournament play on Friday at 10 a.m. at the Rome Tennis Center in Rome, Georgia against the winner of Georgia State and Texas State.
Women's Tennis Player of the Year: Sofia Johnson, Old Dominion
Women's Tennis Player to Watch: Lidiia Rasskouskaia, Old Dominion
Women's Tennis Newcomer of the Year: Lidiia Rasskouskaia, Old Dominion
Women's Tennis Freshman of the Year: Ulyana Romanova, Old Dominion
Women's Tennis Coach of the Year: Dominic Manilla, Old Dominion
Singles First Team All-Conference
Savannah Dada-Mascoll, App State
Ninon Martinache, Georgia Southern
Johanna Strom, Marshall
Sofia Johnson, Old Dominion
Alexandra Viktorovitch, Old Dominion
Elysia Pool, South Alabama
Singles Second Team All-Conference
Jesse Hollins, Coastal Carolina
Maria Paredes, Georgia State
Alba Retortillo, Georgia State
Daria Munteanu, James Madison
Doroteja Joksovic, Marshall
Tereza Dejnozkova, South Alabama
Doubles First Team All-Conference
Emma Vanderheyden/Johanna Strom, Marshall
Sofia Johnson/Lidiia Rasskouskaia, Old Dominion
Tereza Dejnozkova/Elysia Pool, South Alabama
Doubles Second Team All-Conference
Ninon Martinache/Sonja Keranen, Georgia Southern
Sophia Hurrion/Aisling McGrane, Marshall
Leena Metwally/Hagar Ramadan-Amin, Troy
Women’s Tennis Sweeps Individual Honors In 2024 Sun Belt All-Conference Teams
