NORFOLK, Va. | South Alabama dropped their first conference match of the season Saturday, falling to No. 23 Old Dominion in Norfolk.
Old Dominion struck first with a win at number one from the No. 36 ranked duo of Sofia Johnson and Tatsiana Sasnouskaya, who beat
Luminita Tutunaru and
Tereza Dejnozkova 6-3. The Jags evened the doubles score with a win at number two, where
Nikola Novotna and
Elysia Pool issued a 6-4 defeat to Alesya Yakubovich and Shahar Biran.
Attention turned to court three, where the Monarchs of ODU came out on top, getting a 7-5 win from Mya Byrd and Alexandra Viktorovich to go up 1-0 on the day.
In singles, the Monarchs then took a 2-0 lead with a win at number five from Alexandra Viktorovich, who beat
Tereza Dejnozkova 6-4, 6-0.
ODU then took a 3-0 advantage with a win at number four, where Alesya Yakubovich defeated South's
Delien Kleinhans 6-2, 6-0.
The Monarchs clinched the match with a win at number one, where No. 20 Tatsiana Sasnouskaya beat
Luminita Tutunaru 6-3, 6-2.
At number two,
Nikola Novotna and ODU's Sofia Johnson were in the second set that went unfinished, after Novotna claimed the first set 6-2. At number three,
Elysia Pool and Shahar Biran of ODU were also in a second set that went unfinished, after Pool dropped the first 2-6. At number six,
Otoha Aoki and Mya Byrd were tied 6-6 in the first set.
The Jags (12-2, 2-1) take on James Madison Sunday at 9 a.m.
Match Results
March 25, 2023
9 am – Norfolk, Va.
Singles
1. #20 Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (ODU) def.
Luminita Tutunaru (USA) 6-3, 6-2
2. Sofia Johnson (ODU) vs.
Nikola Novotna (USA) 2-6, 3-3, unfinished
3. Shahar Biran (ODU) vs.
Elysia Pool (USA) 6-2, 2-2, unfinished
4. Alesya Yakubovich (ODU) def.
Delien Kleinhans (USA) 6-2, 6-0
5. AlexandraViktorovich (ODU) def.
Tereza Dejnozkova (USA) 6-4, 6-0
6. Mya Byrd (ODU) vs.
Otoha Aoki (USA) 6-6 (4-4), unfinished
Doubles
1. #36 Sofia Johnson/Tatsiana Sasnouskaya (ODU) def.
Luminita Tutunaru/
Tereza Dejnozkova (USA) 6-3
2.
Nikola Novotna/
Elysia Pool (USA) def. Alesya Yakubovich/Shahar Biran (ODU) 6-4
3. Mya Byrd/AlexandraViktorovich (ODU) def.
Otoha Aoki/
Chems Doha Zeghlouli (USA) 7-5
Quotable from coach Dr. Jaco Keyser
"Tough one today. Unfortunately lost a doubles point we were completely in control of and played a little deflated after that. No doubt that there is a gap between ODU and rest of the league, but I do not think the gap is insurmountable. Key for us is to keep improving and make sure we get a second crack at them. Will have to process today very efficiently and get ready for another stiff challenge tomorrow. With the rest of the league being so bunched up in quality of play every match could have significant consequences. We need to be ready for a huge battle tomorrow."
Up Next
South Alabama stays on the road traveling to James Madison Sunday.
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