Former ODU women’s tennis star wins set on ex-world No. 1 before falling at U.S. Open
TENNIS
Yuliia Starodubtseva put a scare into a former world No. 1 but eventually succumbed in the U.S. Open first round Monday night in New York.
Starodubtseva, a two-time Conference USA Player of the Year for Old Dominion, fell 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 to No. 20 seed Victoria Azarenka on the Grandstand court.
Starodubtseva, a 24-year-old from Ukraine, accomplished the rare feat of gaining berths in all four 2024 Grand Slam singles draws by going 3-0 in each qualifying bracket. She won a first-round match at Wimbledon but lost in the opening round of the Australian and French opens.
Monday, with her college coach, Dom Manilla, and more of her supporters in the stands, the former ODU star stunned Azarenka by playing aggressively and winning the first four games. Azarenka, from Belarus, rallied to 4-3, breaking serve in a marathon seventh game that lasted more than 13 minutes, but Starodubtseva took the last two games.
Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, bounced back in the second set. After a short break, they returned for the third.
Starodubtseva held serve to start the set but dropped the last six games. She gained $100,000 by reaching the main draw and will move up from her No. 146 world ranking.
AUTO RACING
Almond earns first season championship at VMS
Corey Almond of Appomattox won Saturday night’s race and his first season championship in the Pro Late Model division at Virginia Motor Speedway, the dirt track in Middlesex County.
Almond took the lead from eventual runner-up Billy Hubbard of Cobbs Creek on the 26th lap and won the 30-lap race.
Chris Arnold of Matoaca, who has fought cancer for the past year, won the Modified 25-lapper. Chase Butler placed second and won the season title for the fourth consecutive year.
In the Sportsman 25, Tyler Shipp earned the victory, while race runner-up Brett Adkins gained his fourth season title.
In Limited Stock, Corey Bradley edged his good friend Trent Clemans for the race victory, but Clemans took the points crown.
COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER
Late surge lifts VCU past ODU
A furious comeback — three late goals in less than nine minutes — gave VCU (2-0) a 3-1 victory over Old Dominion (1-1) Monday night at Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond.
The game’s start was delayed 75 minutes due to heavy rain. First-year coach Tennant McVea’s Monarchs went ahead in the 58th minute on Michael Eberle’s goal.
But VCU, which opened its season with a 2-1 comeback triumph, pulled even when in the 81st minute when Papa Toure curled an 81st-minute free kick inside the near post from 20 yards.
The Rams went ahead on Andrey Salmeron’s goal off a deflection in the 84th minute and virtually sealed the triumph when Toure placed a penalty kick in the left corner in the 89th minute.
The Rams outshot the Monarchs 18-4, including an 8-2 margin for shots on goal, and had a 12-0 edge in corner kicks. ODU goalkeeper Michael Statham made five saves.
Lionsbridge coach’s team picked to win league
Chowan, guided by Lionsbridge coach Chris Whalley, was picked first in Conference Carolinas, a 14-team Division II league. The Hawks won last year’s conference tournament and finished 8-4-6.
Emmanuel senior forward Matt Fitzer, a Menchville High graduate, was named one of the “Players to Watch” in the conference. Emmanuel was picked seventh.
No. 18 James Madison (0-0-2) and No. 21 UCLA (1-0-2) played a scoreless draw Sunday night in Los Angeles. The Dukes had a 0-0 result two nights earlier against Cal State Northridge.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER
Saint Peter’s rallies past Hampton
Hampton (0-2-1) netted three unanswered goals Sunday but incurred a 4-3 road loss to Saint Peter’s (2-1) in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The Pirates trailed 2-0 after 34:25, but Sanaa Perry netted a goal 57 seconds before halftime for Hampton.
HU’s Makayla Wade scored in the 57th minute to force a tie, and Sofia Jimenez’s goal in the 84th put the Pirates ahead 3-2.
But Gianna Grassifulli of Saint Peter’s struck for the tying goal with just 2:17 to go in regulation, and Stella Accettola broke the tie with 51 seconds on the clock.
The hosts outshot Hampton 20-13.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
JMU to play home game vs. Texas
James Madison announced a nonconference schedule that includes a home game Dec. 8 against Texas, an Elite Eight, 33-win team last season.
The Dukes’ road games include 2024 Sweet 16 team Notre Dame on Nov. 13, at 2024 Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament runner-up Villanova on Dec. 15 and 2024 Final Four participant North Carolina State on Dec. 19.
JMU will open its season Nov. 4 at Kent State. The Dukes’ 14-player roster includes five from Hampton Roads: Ashanti Barnes, a Lake Taylor High graduate and Old Dominion transfer, plus Annalicia Goodman (Heritage), Zakiya Stephenson (Princess Anne), Mikaya Tines (Norview) and Atiana Williams (Menchville).
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Hokies sell out homecoming game
Virginia Tech announced that its Oct. 26 homecoming game against Georgia Tech at Lane Stadium is sold out.
PRO BASEBALL
Orioles recall Soto from Tides
Infielder Livan Soto was promoted from the Norfolk Tides to the Baltimore Orioles to replace Ryan Mountcastle, who exited Thursday’s 6-0 loss to Houston in the ninth inning due to wrist soreness, which stemmed from the 27-year-old’s slide into second base on a double in the second inning. Mountcastle didn’t play for the rest of the weekend.
Sunday, the Orioles claimed right-handed pitcher Brooks Kriske off waivers from Cincinnati and assigned him to Norfolk. They also designated left-hander Nick Vespi for assignment, leaving his future in the organization murky.
Kriske, 30, had a 12.27 ERA in four Baltimore appearances in 2021. He had a 4.05 ERA in four relief outings for Kansas City this year.
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