NORFOLK Va, — Old Dominion Women’s Tennis came away with a hard-fought win against Kansas on Friday, defeating the Jayhawks 4-3 at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
“We’ve been working hard for a result like this,” Head Coach Dominic Manilla said. “We’ve had a growth mindset this entire season and have been focused on the process. The win today is a symptom of that. I’m happy for the success our team and monarch nation enjoyed today. We will continue to work hard and grow.”
The Jayhawks’ Gracie Mulville and Heike Janse Van Vuuren were victorious at No. 1 doubles over Sofia Johnson and Lidiia Rasskouskaia (6-4), with teammates Kyoka Kubo and Jasmine Adams besting the Monarchs Victoria Matasova and Ulyana Romanova (6-4), giving Kansas the point. Kira Matushkina and Marina Markina’s match against Ana Putlina and Yekezhan Arystanbekova was suspended (5-4).
At No. 2 singles, Matushkina clinched ODU’s first point of the match with a win over Kubo (6-0, 6-2). Romanova earned ODU’s second win of the day, notching a win at No. 4 singles over Meriem Ben Ezzedine (6-1, 6-1).
At No. 1 singles Johnson added another point to the board with a win over Mulville (6-2, 6-2). At No. 6 Kansas’s Putilina bested Markina adding another point to the board for the Jayhawks (6-0, 6-4).
Matasova then followed with the game-sealing win against Ayrstanbekova (6-3, 4-6, 1-6).
At No. 3 Rasskouskaia and Maria Titova would then suspend their match ending the Valentine's Day match (6-4, 3-6, 5-1).
ODU will continue their homestand on Sunday, Feb. 23 against Princeton in the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center at 10 a.m.