by Abbey Baltich

Rasskouskaia Clinches Match for Women's Tennis in Hard-Fought 4-3 Win

Senior captain Lidiia Rasskouskaia clinched a hard-fought 4-3 win over Marshall for #62 Old Dominion women’s tennis on Sunday afternoon.

Rasskouskaia Clinches Match for Women's Tennis in Hard-Fought 4-3 WinRasskouskaia Clinches Match for Women's Tennis in Hard-Fought 4-3 Win

HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – Senior captain Lidiia Rasskouskaia clinched a hard-fought 4-3 win over Marshall for #62 Old Dominion women’s tennis on Sunday afternoon.

“Today took guts,” Head Coach Dominic Manilla said. “We lost five first sets but found a way to win the race to four. I’m happy for our players that they can move into April knowing that they can take the heat. Key for us will be to find the fire earlier on in the match.”

Rasskouskaia and Ulyana Romanova kicked off doubles competition for ODU with a 6-4 victory over Paula Berzina and Nour El Ouazzani on court three, before fellow Monarchs No. 1 Kira Matushkina and Victoria Matasova defeated Alina Mokrynska and Johanna Strom, 6-4, to put Old Dominion on the board. Uladzislava Manzhos’ and Marina Markina’s match against Sarah Copley and Polina Gumeniuk was suspended at 5-5 on court two.

Marshall switched up the momentum in singles play, as No. 5 El Ouazzani downed Markina (6-4, 6-0) to tie the match before No. 2 Gumeniuk took the lead for the Herd after besting Matasova (6-0, 6-4). However, Romanova broke up Marshall’s streak with a 6-4, 7-6 win over Mokrynska on court three. With consecutive wins from Marshall’s No. 1 Strom over Matushkina (6-1, 4-6, 6-3) and ODU’s Manzhos over Copley (2-6, 6-0, 7-5), the fate of the match winner was left to court six.

In a third set fight, No. 6 Rasskouskaia downed Thalia Smith, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 to claim ODU’s win.

Old Dominion returns to Norfolk to host East Carolina on Friday, April 3 at 12 p.m. in the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.

 

Doubles:

  1. Kira Matushkina and Victoria Matasova (ODU) def. Alina Mokrynska and Johanna Strom (MU) 6-4
  2. Uladzislava Manzhos and Marina Markina (ODU) vs. Sarah Copley and Polina Gumeniuk (MU) 5-5, unfinished
  3. Lidiia Rasskouskaia and Ulyana Romanova (ODU) def. Paula Berzina and Nour El Ouazzani (MU) 6-4

Singles:

  1. Johanna Strom (MU) def. #102 Kira Matushkina (ODU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
  2. Polina Gumeniuk (MU) def. #115 Victoria Matasova (ODU) 6-0, 6-4
  3. Ulyana Romanova (ODU) def. Alina Mokrynska (MU) 6-4, 7-6
  4. Uladzislava Manzhos (ODU) def. Sarah Copley (MU) 2-6, 6-0, 7-5
  5. Nour El Ouazzani (MU) def. Marina Markina (ODU) 6-4, 6-0
  6. Lidiia Rasskouskaia (ODU) def. Thalia Smith (MU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1