ODU men’s tennis set to face South Carolina in NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon

The Old Dominion men’s tennis team is gearing up for the NCAA Tournament after clinching their second consecutive Sun Belt Tournament title. The 51st-ranked Monarchs will face off against 24th-ranked South Carolina in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday afternoon.

Head Coach Dominik Mueller expressed his excitement about the upcoming match, stating, “It’s exciting to be in the NCAA Tournament and to be as close to Norfolk as we are. South Carolina is a tough, battle-tested team from the SEC for sure. Playing a name like that is a good start.”

The Monarchs are coming off a strong performance in the Sun Belt Championship, with freshman Connor van Schalkwyk leading the team with a 19-4 record in the spring season. The team’s doubles pairings have also been impressive, with Rolland de Ravel and Codie van Schalkwyk boasting a perfect 14-0 record.

On the other side, South Carolina is led by Casey Hoole and Toby Samuel, who are ranked 18th nationally in doubles. Samuel is also ranked eighth nationally in singles, making him a formidable opponent for the Monarchs.

This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams, with South Carolina winning the prior matchups. The last time they faced off in the NCAA Tournament was in 2018, with South Carolina emerging victorious with a 4-1 win.

With both teams coming off strong performances in their respective conference tournaments, the upcoming match promises to be an exciting and competitive showdown on the courts of N.C. State.