ROME, Ga. — #54 Old Dominion men’s tennis claimed its fourth-straight Sun Belt Conference Championship after defeating Troy, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon in Rome, Georgia.
Zech Hamrouni clinched the match for the Monarchs at court five with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 win over Stephan Noale.
“What an unbelievable response from this group after doubles,” Head Coach Dominik Mueller said. “They came out like a running train and took it all the way to the finish line. Third year in a row that a freshman clinches which speaks to itself. Just so happy for these guys.”
Troy took the doubles point following wins on court one and two. Stephan Noale and Thiago Drozdowski bested Adam Majchrzak and Thomas Nelson, 6-4, after Luciano Alcocer and Hiiro Sakamoto downed Piet Steveker and Zech Hamrouni, 6-3. Jean-Karim Olivier de Sardan’s and Felix Obermair’s match on court three against Yeray Andres Pastor and Ryusei Miyazato was suspended at 5-5.
Majchrzak quickly tied the match after beating Ausias Martin Melo, 6-0, 6-3, on court one to open singles play. Aryan Saleh followed suit, defeating Louis Boilevin, 6-0, 6-3, on court six. Steveker brought the Monarchs one point away from claiming the match after beating Andres Pastor, 6-3, 6-4, allowing Hamrouni to claim the SBC Championship for Old Dominion after downing Noale, 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.
No. 2 Obermair’s and No. 4 Olivier de Sardan’s matches against respective opponents Alcocer (6-2, 6-7 (7-4), 3-1) and Sakamoto (5-7, 6-4) were suspended.
Old Dominion finds out its location and opponent for the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 27.
Doubles:
1. Stephan Noale and Thiago Drozdowski (TROY) def. Adam Majchrzak and Thomas Nelson (ODU) 6-4
2. Luciano Alcocer and Hiiro Sakamoto (TROY) def. Piet Steveker and Zech Hamrouni (ODU) 6-3
3. Jean-Karim Olivier de Sardan and Felix Obermair (ODU) vs. Yeray Andres Pastor and Ryusei Miyazato (TROY) 5-5, unfinished
Singles:
1. Adam Majchrzak (ODU) def. Ausias Martin Melo (TROY) 6-0, 6-3
2. Felix Obermair (ODU) vs. Luciano Alcocer (TROY) 6-2, 6-7 (7-4), 3-1, unfinished
3. Piet Steveker (ODU) def. Yeray Andres Pastor (TROY) 6-3, 6-4
4. Jean-Karim Olivier de Sardan (ODU) vs. Hiiro Sakamoto (TROY) 5-7, 6-4, unfinished
5. Zech Hamrouni (ODU) def. Stephan Noale (TROY) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2
6. Aryan Saleh (ODU) def. Louis Boilevin (TROY) 6-0, 6-3