2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Tennis Postseason Awards Announced

The Old Dominion Monarchs women’s tennis team dominated the Sun Belt Conference postseason awards, with multiple players and their head coach receiving top honors.

Junior Sofia Johnson was named Player of the Year and also earned first team doubles and singles honors. Johnson has had an impressive season with a 19-8 record in singles, including wins over top teams like Ole Miss and Florida State. Her coach, Dominic Manilla, praised her dedication and improvement throughout her career at ODU.

Lidiia Rasskouskaia was named Player to Watch and Newcomer of the Year, joining Johnson on first team doubles. Rasskouskaia has had a stellar season with a 16-1 record in singles and a nine-match winning streak. Coach Manilla commended her talent and character, predicting great things for her future at ODU.

Freshman Ulyana Romanova was named Freshman of the Year after an impressive 14-4 record this spring. Romanova had a 14-match winning streak and played a crucial role in ODU’s victories over tough opponents like VCU.

Graduate student Alexandra Viktorovitch also earned first team honors in singles with a 17-9 overall record and a perfect 10-0 record in league play. Coach Manilla praised Viktorovitch for her consistency and recognized her at the end of her career.

Coach Manilla himself was named Coach of the Year for leading the Monarchs to a second straight undefeated league regular season. Despite facing challenges with a smaller roster, Manilla guided his team to victory over nationally-ranked opponents and maintained a top national ranking.

The Monarchs will now look to continue their success as they open Sun Belt Tournament play on Friday. With a talented roster and a dedicated coaching staff, ODU is poised for a strong postseason run.