NORFOLK, Va. – The 71st-ranked Old Dominion women's tennis team began Sun Belt Conference play on Saturday morning with a 5-2 win over Marshall at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
"Really was a fantastic performance by the team today. It was a team win with solid performances across the board. It was a team effort today, while it is an individual sport we want them to take care of their court, but today the energy was felt across the court and that helped us get it done," said ODU Head Coach Dominic Manilla.
Playing with five players due to illness, the Monarchs had to win both doubles matches and accomplished that with identical 6-3 scores. Ulyana Romanova and Alexandra Viktorovitch took the first win for ODU (5-5, 1-0) at No. 2 over Johanna Strom and Emma Vanderhevden. It was immediately followed by a win from Sofia Johnson and Lidiia Rasskouskaia at No. 1 for the early 1-0 lead.
Marshall got the forfeit victory at No. 6 singles to even the match, before ODU ripped off the next five matches. Johnson got the run going with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Venderheyden at No. 1, followed by Rasskouskaia with a 7-6 (10-8), 6-1 win over Doroteja Joksovic at No. 4 for a 3-1 ODU lead. Romanova took the clinching match with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Rieke Gillar at No. 5 with Viktorovitch finishing it with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win over Sophia Hurrion at No. 3 for a 5-1 lead.
The win is the 20th straight regular season conference victory for ODU, the last 11 of those in the Sun Belt.
ODU now heads to Southern Miss on March 16 and South Alabama on March 17 for 11 a.m. EDT matches.
Tennis Match Results
Marshall vs Old Dominion
3/9/2024 at Norfolk, Va.
(Folkes-Stevens Tennis)
#71 Old Dominion 5, Marshall 2
Singles competition
1. Sofia Johnson (ODU-W) def. Emma Vanderheyden (MAR) 6-2, 6-4
2. Johanna Strom (MAR) def. Allison Isaacs (ODU-W) 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
3. AlexandraViktorovich (ODU-W) def. Sophia Hurrion (MAR) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
4. Lidiia Rasskouskaia (ODU-W) def. Doroteja Joksovic (MAR) 7-6 (10-8), 6-1
5. Ulyana Romanova (ODU-W) def. Rieke Gillar (MAR) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
6. Aisling McGrane (MAR) def. No player (ODU-W), by forfeit
Doubles competition
1. Sofia Johnson/Lidiia Rasskouskaia (ODU-W) def. Sophia Hurrion/Aisling McGrane (MAR) 6-3
2. Ulyana Romanova/AlexandraViktorovich (ODU-W) def. Johanna Strom/Emma Vanderheyden (MAR) 6-3
3. Gabrielle Clairotte/Rieke Gillar (MAR) def. No player/No player (ODU-W), by forfeit
Match Notes:
Marshall 9-6/0-1
Old Dominion 5-5/1-0; National ranking #71
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (1,4,5,3,2
Women's Tennis Starts Sun Belt Play With 5-2 Win Over Marshall
Ulyana Romanova with the clincher at No. 5 singles against Marshall