STILLWATER, Okla. – For the second time in the last three years, the Old Dominion women’s tennis team will have an Intercollegiate Tennis Association Singles All-American and with her win on Tuesday it is Sofia Johnson.
The London, England junior, ranked 116th nationally, raced out to a 5-0 lead for the second day in a row in the third set and defeated 98th-ranked Andjela Skrobonja of San Diego State 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 at the Greenwood Tennis Center in the NCAA Second Round on Tuesday afternoon.
With her two wins thus far in the tournament, she earns the fourth ITA Singles All-American honor since 2000 for Old Dominion. Nataly Cahana earned the recognition in 2001 and 2002, while Yuliia Starodubtseva was named All-American in 2022.
“Awesome battle by Sofia! Hats off to her opponent as she threw everything at us and made it extremely hard to get over the finish line. We need to rest as the conditions today were extremely hot and windy. We are waiting to learn of her sweet sixteen opponent,” said ODU Head Coach Dominic Manilla.
In the first set, Johnson was down 5-2 and 15-40 on her serve and rallied back to even the set at 5-5. Skrobonja took the last two games to win that opening set.
The second set saw Johnson take the first two games, but Skrobonja answered with the next two. After each won a game to make the set 3-3, Johnson found another gear winning the last three games to take the second set 6-3.
That run continued in the third set as she roared with the first five games en route to a 6-1 third set and advancing to the Round of 16.
She will face Anastasiia Lopata of Georgia who defeated fifth-seeded Fiona Crawley of North Carolina on Wednesday 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Lopata is ranked 70th nationally
“Congratulations to Sofia Johnson, an All American in all aspects of the distinction. So deserving, simply elite,” Manilla added.