Washington and Lee sophomore Evan Erb (St. Louis, Mo. / MICDS) opened play in the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Singles Championship on Thursday, but fell in straight sets to Caleb Wilkins of Chapman University.
The 25th-ranked Washington and Lee men's tennis team fell by a 5-1 score to No. 16 N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship.
Washington and Lee University, winners of 41 overall and 13 straight ODAC men's tennis titles, headline the 2022-23 All-ODAC Men's Tennis Awards with a league-best eight all-conference team honors and one additional special honor.
An end becomes a beginning for some with the close of the ODAC regular season upon us over the next few weeks. Week 34 marks the final report for women's and men's tennis as those conference championship events begin on Tuesday and Wednesday. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 24, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Emma Stiffler from Shenandoah women's lacrosse, Warren Seeds from Washington and Lee men's lacrosse, Addison Schmidt from Roanoke women's lacrosse, Hudson Pokorny from W&L men's lacrosse, Sarah Prosser from Virginia Wesleyan softball, Benton Jones from Lynchburg baseball, Lauren Long and Evan Erb from W&L tennis, Lauren Bible from VWU softball, and Jack Bachmore from LYN baseball.
Washington and Lee University, winner of 39 of the 45 men's tennis trophies handed out by the conference since 1977, enter the 2023 ODAC Men's Tennis Tournament in its customary top-seeded position following a 9-0 run through its league slate of matches.
ODAC standings are starting to take shape with just a couple of weeks left in the 2022-23 regular seasons. The lines making those shapes are sharper for some than others as results from Week 33 in some conference sports muddied the league tables with no way to predict who might sit where for seeding until all the games are completed. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 17, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Lilly Burns from Roanoke softball, Owen Tappy from Hampden-Sydney baseball, Jada Karnes from RC softball, Levi Vigdorchik from Lynchburg men's tennis, Natalie Mason from RC women's lacrosse, Owen Gucwa from Randolph-Macon men's lacrosse, Paul Ryhsen from Averett women's tennis, Tyler Blittersdorf from Shenandoah baseball, Elizabeth Peasley from AU women's lacrosse, and Ethan Robinette from R-MC men's lacrosse.
Week 32 of the Division III season means we are just a few weeks away from the start of spring championships and the stretch run of the 2022-23 campaign. ODAC teams and athletes are certain ready for such challenges based on the high caliber of play coming from all corners of the league. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 10, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Zack Potts from Lynchburg baseball, Naomi Sadler from Randolph-Macon softball, Brody Langlotz from Roanoke baseball, Gracie Ellis from R-MC softball, Thomas Harry from Hampden-Sydney lacrosse, Rachael Robinson from Bridgewater women's lacrosse, Artem Babaiev and Jahveesha Combs from Shenandoah tennis, Jake Rust from LYN men's lacrosse, and Hanna Bishop from Washington and Lee women's lacrosse.
April signifies the stretch run for any Division III season, and that is no different this year with Week 31 reporting marking the first days of the month. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 3, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Evan Erb from Washington and Lee men's tennis, Allie Schwab from W&L women's lacrosse, Luke Kammerman from Roanoke men's lacrosse, Lauren Long from W&L women's tennis, Wesley Arrington and Emily Charlton from Lynchburg baseball and softball, Will Perry from Hampden-Sydney men's lacrosse, Sam Van Belle from W&L women's lacrosse, Carrson Atkins from LYN baseball, and Julia Piotrowski from Virginia Wesleyan softball.
Temperatures are rising outside and so are ODAC athletes' performances as evidenced by the strong crew of award winners and honor roll members for Week 30 of the 2022-23 academic year. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 27, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Jacob Bell from Shenandoah baseball, Felix Bevc from Virginia Wesleyan men's tennis, Lauren Long from Washington and Lee women's tennis, Kyleigh Chickering from Roanoke women's lacrosse, Oliva Owens from Randolph-Macon softball, Avery Neaves from Lynchburg baseball, Gracie Ellis from R-MC softball, Tyler Hadley from LYN men's lacrosse, Raven Felder from Averett women's lacrosse, and Riley Mitchell from LYN men's lacrosse.
Spring sports are at full-go with outdoor track & field joining the action for Week 29 (announced on Tuesday). Movement in ODAC standings became more frequent and will continue to take shape as we draw deeper into March. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 20, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Sarah Watts from Lynchburg softball, Gaines Weis from Hampden-Sydney men's lacrosse, Caroline Kranich from Washington and Lee women's lacrosse, Jahveesha Combs from Shenandoah women's tennis, Kooper Anderson and Jacob Bell from SU baseball, Walker McKnight from W&L women's lacrosse, Wyatt Whitlow from Roanoke men's lacrosse, Emily Seale from Virginia Wesleyan softball, and Jovan Cirkovic from SU men's tennis.
A wintry blast limited action for spring sports in Week 28, but that didn't keep ODAC stars from continuing their high level play in all arenas. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 13, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Jada Karnes and Caleb Lingenfelter from Roanoke softball and baseball, Lauren Roberts and Gabriel Alexand from Bridgewater women's and men's lacrosse, Matt Sinko from Virginia Wesleyan baseball, Rilee Baughan from Randolph-Macon softball, Evan Erb from Washington and Lee men's tennis, Isabela Guilarte from Sweet Briar women's tennis, Tyler Hadley from Lynchburg men's lacrosse, and Eugenie Rovegno from W&L women's lacrosse.
If early season play is any indication, ODAC fans are going to have a lot to cheer about during the spring season. Week 27 featured big time wins in tennis and high-output performances in baseball, lacrosse, and softball.
Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 6, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Ruth de Souza from Sweet Briar tennis, Evan Erb from Washington and Lee men's tennis, Julia Thomson from W&L women's lacrosse, Mark Sprague from Virginia Wesleyan men's lacrosse, Kayla Davis from Randolph-Macon softball, Colby Martin from Shenandoah baseball, Ashley MacFarlane from SU women's lacrosse, Tyler Carney from Bridgewater men's lacrosse, Rilee Baughan from R-MC softball, and Will Turner from Roanoke baseball.
Weather did not cooperate in some areas for our spring sports as Week 26 marks the first fully outdoor report of the spring season. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, February 27, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Eugenie Rovegno from Washington and Lee women's lacrosse, Jack Smith from Randolph-Macon men's lacrosse, Sarah Watts from Lynchburg softball, Isaiah Hairston from Guilford basketball, Shannon Timoney from W&L women's lacrosse, Andres Mercedes from GC men's tennis, Emma Adams from Virginia Wesleyan softball, Tyler Hadley from LYN men's lacrosse, Gabi Moss from W&L women's tennis, and Hayden Snelsire from R-MC baseball.
Week 25 marks the largest report of the season with a full slate of spring sports joining basketball in the final week of "crossover season." Softball, women's lacrosse, and tennis honors its first athletes of the year with baseball and men's lacrosse continuing and basketball wrapping up its regular season with this week's ODAC Tournament beginning Monday evening.
Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, February 20, include (pictured top-bottom, left-right): Tyler Hadley from Lynchburg men's lacrosse, Caroline Kranich from Washington and Lee women's lacrosse, Robert DiSibio and Mary Schleusner from W&L men's and women's basketball, Evan Blair from W&L baseball, Taylor Sullivan from Averett softball, Allie Schab and Hudson Pokorny from W&L women's and men's lacrosse, Elizabeth Teefey from LYN women's tennis, Federico Maccari from Roanoke men's tennis, Gracie Dooley from LYN softball, and Ethan Currin from Hampden-Sydney baseball.
We kick off the spring season of coaches' surveys with the 2023 ODAC Men's Tennis Coaches Poll. It is no surprise finding 12-time defending ODAC champion Washington and Lee University perched atop the table with 121 points powered by 11 first place votes.
Conference newcomer Averett University will be an immediate challenger to the Generals title aspirations with the Cougars opening their first ODAC men's tennis spring season slotted second with 111 markers and the remaining top nod. Virginia Wesleyan University, runner-up in each of the past two seasons, rounds out the top-three with 96 tallies.
Randolph College Director of Athletics Tom Galbraith has announced former WildCat student-athlete, Sam Martinez, as the new head tennis coach. Martinez will assume his post on July 1.
The Washington and Lee men's tennis team saw its season come to an end on Saturday with a 5-2 loss to ninth-ranked Bowdoin in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Williams College.
Washington and Lee claimed its opening match in the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship, knocking off UMass-Boston by a score of 5-0 on Friday afternoon at Williams College.
Washington and Lee University collected a league-high eight all-conference team selections plus two special individual honors to headline the 2022 All-ODAC Men's Tennis Awards.
Bridgewater College senior Canon Secord received ODAC Player of the Year honors from the league's head coaches for a third time in his career. Washington and Lee mentor David Detwiler garnered ODAC Coach of the Year laurels, while Generals first-year Will Kistler was tabbed the ODAC Rookie of the Year. Randolph College senior Alex Kulvivat was named the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the league's athletic communications personnel.
The NCAA announced the Division III Men's Tennis Tournament field for its annual team championship in a release on ncaa.com on Monday afternoon. Washington and Lee University, winners of 12 straight and a record 40 overall conference trophies, will be the lone squad to represent the ODAC in the 44-team field.
The top-seeded Washington and Lee men's tennis team claimed its 12th straight Old Dominion Athletic Conference title with a 5-0 win over second-seeded Virginia Wesleyan in the championship match on Sunday at the W&L Upper Courts.
The final weekly report of the season is here with Week 35 in the books. All sports have either completed or are in the midst of their conference tournaments. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Tuesday, May 3, include (pictured from left and top): Taylor Garcia from Washington and Lee women's tennis, Reid Long from Bridgewater baseball, Avery Neaves from Lynchburg baseball, Canon Secord from BC men's tennis, Allie Schwab from W&L women's lacrosse, and Chris Darminio from Lynchburg men's lacrosse.
Washington and Lee University has won an ODAC-best 38 men's tennis titles and the Generals enter the 2022 postseason as the odds on favorite to add another trophy to their mantle as the top seed in the upcoming ODAC Men's Tennis Tournament. W&L posted an 8-0 record through the sport's unbalanced league schedule.
The Lexington-based campus will also serve as the home of the ODAC semifinals and championship this season with W&L welcoming the conference's men's and women's contingents to town following quarterfinal play at the highest four seeds.
Week 34 marks the second to last weekly report of the ODAC season as sports close or prepare to end their regular season campaigns. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 25, include (pictured from left and top): Gracie Ellis from Randolph-Macon softball, Conner Butler from Roanoke baseball, Drew Ramos from R-MC baseball, Shanan Hester from RC softball, Taylor Witherell and Julia Thomson from Washington and Lee men's and women's lacrosse, Will Kistler from W&L men's tennis, and Christina Harris from Lynchburg women's tennis.
ODAC standings are tighter than ever through week 33 of the season as spring postseason tournaments approach. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 18, include (pictured from left and top): Emma Stiffler from Shenandoah women's lacrosse, Garrett Jackson from Lynchburg baseball, Jack Averna from Randolph-Macon men's lacrosse, Natalia Garcia Molina from SU women's tennis, Mitchell Perry from Virginia Wesleyan men's tennis, Emily Charlton from LYN softball, Reilly Owen from SU baseball, and Sarah Wimer from Bridgewater softball.
Perfect games, personal bests, and team and individual milestones dot profiles for ODAC athletes and teams from week 32 of the 2021-22 season. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 11, include (pictured from left and top): Luca Docking from Roanoke men's lacrosse, Ruth de Souza from Sweet Briar women's tennis, Libby Bowman from RC women's lacrosse, Avery Neaves from Lynchburg baseball, Rilee Baughan from Randolph-Macon softball, Nick Mattfield from LYN baseball, Gracie Ellis from R-MC softball, and Gene Perle-Jones from Shenandoah men's tennis.
Week 31 moved us into the final month of the year as conference teams and student-athletes start the stretch run towards the close of the spring season and the final postseason events of the year. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, April 4, include (pictured from left and top): Gracie Ellis from Randolph-Macon softball, Thomas Haller from Washington and Lee baseball, Myles Webb from R-MC baseball, Anna Grace Terrell from Lynchburg softball, Luke Kammerman from Roanoke men's lacrosse, Janie Stillwell from W&L women's lacrosse, Levi Vigdorchik from LYN men's tennis, and Ryan Roeber from Bridgewater women's tennis.
Week 30 of the 2021-22 season was heavy in ODAC competition as teams get ready for the turn of the calendar to the final month of regular season play this year. Those earning ODAC Athlete of the Week awards for Monday, March 28, include (pictured from left and top): Lyndsey Sears from Ferrum softball, Evan Erb from Washington and Lee men's tennis, John Benner from W&L baseball, Karle Cundiff from Lynchburg softball, Avery Neaves from LYN baseball, Allie Schwab from W&L women's lacrosse, Ray O'Brien from Hampden-Sydney men's lacrosse, and Elizabeth Teefey from LYN women's tennis.
Erb's Season Closes in NCAA Singles First Round
May 18, 2023Washington and Lee sophomore Evan Erb (St. Louis, Mo. / MICDS) opened play in the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Singles Championship on Thursday, but fell in straight sets to Caleb Wilkins of Chapman University.
