STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The Old Dominion men's tennis team took on its second Big 10 opponent of the season and came away with a 4-0 win on Sunday at Penn State.
With the win, the Monarchs are now 9-1 on the year which marks the fourth time since 2000 that ODU has started a season winning nine of its first 10 matches.
"Finishing the indoor part of our season at 9-1, including 2-0 over Big 10 opponents, reflects the hard work our guys put in all season long. We are excited to go outside next week and prepare for an elite Blue Gray Tournament," said ODU Head Coach Dominik Mueller.
Doubles action saw the Monarchs take wins at the top two spots, much like they did on Friday night in a 4-3 win at VCU. The 19th-ranked duo of Connor van Schalkwyk and Codie van Schalkwyk scored a 6-2 win over Miko Eala and Stefan Simeunovic at No. 1. Right after that win, the 34th-ranked duo of Jakob Cadonau and Cosme Rolland De Ravel defeated Nolan Ranger and Ari Cotoulas by the same 6-2 count for a 1-0 ODU lead.
Singles saw Connor van Schalkwyk start off with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Simeunovic for a 2-0 ODU lead. With that win, Connor finished off a 2-0 weekend in both singles and doubles. Rolland De Ravel gave the Monarchs a 3-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Ranger at No. 3.
Cadonau recorded the clincher at No. 4 with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) win over Cotoulas for the 4-0 victory. The remaining matches were halted after ODU locked up the win.
The Monarchs now head to Montgomery, Alabama on Friday and Saturday for the 76th annual Blue Gray Tournament. This field of eight teams all finished last season ranked in the top 75 nationally which will include ODU, Auburn, Alabama, Michigan State, MTSU, Princeton, Rice and Boise State.
Tennis Match Results
Old Dominion vs Penn State
2/18/24 at University Park, Pa.
(Indoor Tennis Center)
Old Dominion 4, Penn State 0
Singles competition
1. Connor van Schalkwyk (ODU-M) def. Stefan Simeunovic (PSU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Jack Martuccio (PSU) vs. Codie van Schalkwyk (ODU-M) 5-7, 2-1, unfinished
3. Cosme Rolland De Ravel (ODU-M) def. Nolan Ranger (PSU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Jakob Cadonau (ODU-M) def. Ari Cotoulas (PSU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Alexander Sterin (PSU) vs. Aryan Saleh (ODU-M) 2-1, unfinished
6. Ritvik Nadikude (PSU) vs. Maxime Mareschal-Hay (ODU-M) unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Codie van Schalkwyk/Connor van Schalkwyk (ODU-M) def. Miko Eala/Stefan Simeunovic (PSU) 6-2
2. CosmeRolland DeRavel/Jakob Cadonau (ODU-M) def. Nolan Ranger/Ari Cotoulas (PSU) 6-2
3. Alexander Sterin/Jack Martuccio (PSU) vs. Aryan Saleh/Maxime Mareschal-Hay (ODU-M) 2-4, unfinished
Match Notes:
Old Dominion 9-1
Penn State 4-7
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,3,4)
Men's Tennis Blanks Penn State 4-0 Sunday
Bruce Butler