STATESBORO - No. 31-ranked Old Dominion picked up a 4-0 Sun Belt women's tennis victory over a short-handed Georgia Southern squad on Sunday at the Wallis Tennis Center.
The Monarchs improved to 14-4 and remained unbeaten in league play at 9-0 with the victory, while Georgia Southern falls to 16-5 overall and 7-3 in the Sun Belt. The Eagles will wrap up the 2023 regular season on Saturday, hosting Georgia State in a 10 a.m. Sun Belt contest in Statesboro.
Old Dominion won at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to take the doubles point and the early 1-0 lead. The Eagles did pick up a win at No. 3 doubles as Ninon Martinache and Lindsay Tulenko defeated Shahar Biran and Alesya Yakubovich, 6-2.
In singles, the Monarchs took the first set in five of six singles matches. Martinache won her first set, 6-4, over Yakubovich, and was in the third set when the match was completed. Old Dominion took straight set singles wins at No. 1, No. 5 and No. 6 singles to collect the victory.
"Today was a tough match," Georgia Southern Head Women's Tennis Coach Sean McCaffrey said. "Old Dominion is no doubt a strong team, yet after coming together following the match today I think we recognized that there is truly not that much separating both squads. I think the biggest difference was the level of confidence ODU showed during some very key deuce points and in how they played freely in bigger moments. Saying that we 'believe we can win' is far different than showing it. We needed to play a bit out of position today which may have added to the uncertainty. However we are a team of nine, and when someone is unable to play, the next woman needs to step up. This occurs not just when they step on the court but in their preparation every single day and in the days and hours prior to competition. One needs to know they can fight and win and then truly believe it. Otherwise it's just talk. We have an incredible squad that I believe in and that is capable of doing extraordinary things. I'm excited to see what they can do leading up to the conference tournament."
Results
Singles
#31 Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (ODU) def. Ana Tsitavets (GS) 6-4, 7-5
Sofia Johnson (ODU) led Nanaka Kijima (GS) 6-3, 5-5, unfinished
Shahar Biran (ODU) led Lindsay Tulenko (GS) 6-2, 5-3, unfinished
Ninon Martinache (GS) led Alesya Yakubovich (ODU) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0, unfinished
Alexan Viktorovitch (ODU) def. Paula Hijos (GS) 6-4, 6-4
Allison Isaacs (GS) def. Sophie Wagemaker (GS) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
#35 Sofia Johnson/Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (ODU) def. Sonja Keranen/Ana Tsitavets (GS) 6-3
Allison Isaacs/Alexan Viktorovitch (ODU) def. Nanaka Kijima/Liv Ryan (GS) 6-1
Lindsay Tulenko/Ninon Martinache (GS) def. Shahar Biran/Alesya Yakubovich (ODU) 6-2
