RICHMOND, Va. – Old Dominion’s men’s tennis fell in a close game against in-state rival VCU on Friday by a 4-3 score.
The Rams came out strong with Leon Xaroski and Gevorg Mnatsakanyan defeating Monarchs Yanis Moundir and Thomas Nelson with a 6-3 score. However, brother duo Codie and Connor van Schalkwyk would respond for ODU with a win over German Samofalov and Erwann Bouchet (6-2), and in the point-clinching match, Cosme Rolland De Ravel and Adam Majchrzak took down Nicolo Consonni and Kostiantyn Mantach to earn Old Dominion the first point of the game.
No. 2 Rolland De Ravel would continue his winning ways as he dominated Consonni (6-1, 6-1) to open the singles matches, though Zaorski would grab VCU’s first point of the match with a win over Moundir (6-2, 6-4).
Connor van Schalkwyk put the Monarchs within reach of the win after besting Samofalov in a tiebreaker match (6-4, 2-6, 6-2), though brother Codie van Schalkwyk dropped his contest against Bouchet (0-6, 6-3, 8-10) in extra sets as well.
VCU kept their hopes alive thanks to Mantach’s win against Nelson (7-5, 6-2), and Mnatsakanyan would secure the Ram’s come-from-behind win with a victory over Aryan Saleh (4-6, 6-3, 6-4).
Old Dominion returns home this Wednesday, February 19 to challenge Liberty at 4:30 p.m. in the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.