NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion men’s tennis team pushed Virginia Tech on Friday night but dropped a 4-2 decision at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
Virginia Tech took the doubles point winning 7-5 at line one and 7-6 at line three.
In singles, the Monarchs took wins at line five and six for a 2-1 lead. Nicola Vidal with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Michael Shepheard at line six, while Cosme Rolland De Ravel earned a 6-4, 6-1 win over Alberto Orso at line five.
The Hokies took three-set wins to come back for the win at the top three spots. Younes Lalamiranked 91st for ODU, fell to 32nd ranked Ryan Fishback 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 at number one, while Codie van Schalkwyk lost to 121st ranked Alvaro Ariza 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 at number two. Manuel Goncalves defeated Brandon Perez at number three 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 for Virginia Tech to take the win.
“The bottom line is that we need to learn how to close. We put ourselves in position to serve for two doubles matches and losing two singles matches in which we have match points,” said ODU Head Coach Dominic Mueller. “The momentum was on our side for the majority of the match and credit to VT they kept believing. It’s a hard one to swallow but we need to learn from this and have a great chance to bounce back Sunday.”
ODU (3-2) takes on Wisconsin at 11 am on Sunday at Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion
Jan. 27, 2023 at Norfolk, Va.
(Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center)
Virginia Tech 4, Old Dominion 2
Singles
1. #32 Ryan Fishback (VT) def. #91 Younes Lalami (ODU-M) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
2. #121 Alvaro Ariza (VT) def. Codie van Schalkwyk (ODU-M) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
3. Manuel Goncalves (VT) def. Brandon Perez (ODU-M) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
4. Francois Le Tallec (ODU-M) vs. Hugo Maia (VT) 6-1, 1-6, 6-6, unfinished
5. Cosme Rolland De Ravel (ODU-M) def. Alberto Orso (VT) 6-4, 6-1
6. Nicola Vidal (ODU-M) def. Michael Shepherd (VT) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
1. #13 Jordan Chrysostom/Ryan Fishback (VT) def. #54 Younes Lalami/Brandon Perez (ODU-M) 7-5
2. Jakob Cadonau/Codie van Schalkwyk (ODU-M) vs. Alvaro Ariza/Scott Sculley (VT) 6-6, unfinished
3. Alberto Orso/Matt Harper (VT) def. Luca Maldoner/Nicola Vidal (ODU-M) 7-6
Match Notes:
Virginia Tech 3-0
Old Dominion 3-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,5,1,2,3)
T-3:22