by Abbey Baltich

Old Dominion Men's Tennis Downs North Alabama to Round Out ITA Kickoff Weekend

Old Dominion men’s tennis split the ITA Kickoff Weekend with a 4-1 win over North Alabama on Saturday morning.

Old Dominion Men's Tennis Downs North Alabama to Round Out ITA Kickoff WeekendOld Dominion Men's Tennis Downs North Alabama to Round Out ITA Kickoff Weekend

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Old Dominion men’s tennis split the ITA Kickoff Weekend with a 4-1 win over North Alabama on Saturday morning.

"North Alabama is a quality team," Head Coach Dominik Mueller said. "They qualified for this Kickoff winning the A-Sun last year and being ranked 65 in the country. They brought their top of the line up back so we knew it was going to be a dog fight. We needed a match like that to have a comeback win and overcoming adversity. Our backs were against the wall at some stage but our guys kept fighting and ultimately putting away a strong opponent."

Doubles competition began in the Lion’s favor as No. 3 Zech Hamrouni and Piet Steveker took the first match with a win over Benjamin Meyers and Alex Despoja, 6-1. However, No. 73 Alberto Altur and Izan Orgiles tied the score at one after a 6-3 victory over Adam Majchrzak and Thomas Nelson on court one. For the doubles point, No. 2 Lachlan Brain and Austin Miramontes defeated Jean-Karim Olivier de Sardan and Felix Obermair (7-6) to give UNA the early lead.

Despite a rocky start, the Monarchs rallied in singles competition. Jean-Karim Olivier de Sardan opened the matches with a win over Orgiles on court three (6-2, 6-2), while teammate Aryan Saleh followed suit after downing Despoja on court four (6-2, 6-4). Now in the lead, No. 6 Obermair put ODU one point away from claiming the match, besting Samuel Balfour in three sets (6-4, 3-6, 6-4), and for the win, No. 5 Steveker defeated Satoru Nakajima in three sets as well (4-6, 6-1, 6-3).

No. 1 Majchrzak’s and No. 2 Hamrouni’s matches against respective opponents Brain (3-6, 6-1, 5-2) and No. 111 Altur (7-6, 1-6, 2-5) were suspended.

Old Dominion returns home on Friday, Jan. 30 for a doubleheader against Richmond at 1 p.m. and Norfolk State at 6 p.m. at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.

 

Doubles:

  1. #73 Alberto Altur and Izan Orgiles (UNA) def. Adam Majchrzak and Thomas Nelson (ODU) 6-3
    2. Lachlan Brain and Austin Miramontes (UNA) def. Jean-Karim Olivier de Sardan and Felix Obermair (ODU) 7-6
  2. Zech Hamrouni and Piet Steveker (ODU) def. Benjamin Meyers and Alex Despoja (UNA) 6-1

Singles:

  1. Adam Majchrzak (ODU) vs. Lachlan Brain (UNA) 3-6, 6-1, 5-2, unfinished
  2. Zech Hamrouni (ODU) vs. #111 Alberto Altur (UNA) 7-6, 1-6, 2-5, unfinished
  3. Jean-Karim Olivier de Sardan (ODU) def. Izan Orgiles (UNA) 6-2, 6-2
  4. Aryan Saleh (ODU) def. Alex Despoja (UNA) 6-2, 6-4
    5. Piet Steveker (ODU) def. Satoru Nakajima (UNA) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
    6. Felix Obermair (ODU) def. Samuel Balfour (UNA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4