Monarch Brew 5/2: The Time Has Come

Tennis Squads Set To Open NCAA Tournament Action Today

Author

Monarch Brew Crew
May 02, 2025

Good Morning ODU Fam. All the training. All the extra practices. All the conditioning.

It’s built up to this for the ODU tennis squads as they are set to open up NCAA action today in North Carolina.

What all do we have stirring in today’s Brew? Check it out below!

🎾 The Time Has come
⚾️ Back In The 757
🏈 Fresh Faces
​🦁 And much more!

🎾 THE TIME HAS COME

Now, the party begins.

Kicking off the action will be the women’s team, who will be making their
sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance when they take the courts
in Durham to battle Florida Atlantic in the first round on Friday at 1 pm.
The winner of that matchup will square off with either
Duke or Bryant in the second round.

About an hour away, the men’s team will hit the courts at 2 pm in
Winston-Salem to battle Kentucky for the right to advance to
the second round and face either Wake Forest or Gardner-Webb.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Back In The 757. Winners of two of their past three Sun Belt series, the ODU baseball team returns to the 757 this weekend to host Marshall in a critical conference matchup ahead of this month’s Sun Belt Tournament.

Coming off a series victory at ULM, the Monarchs return to Warm Memorial Stadium in Hampton for a 6 pm matchup on Friday, 3 pm on Saturday and 1 pm on Sunday with the Thundering Herd.

With only three conference series left, both teams are looking to angle to earn a spot in the top 10 of the Sun Belt standings and earn a ticket to Montgomery, Ala. later this month.

🔼 Fresh Faces. Spring football may be over, but the preparation for next year is still in full swing.

This week, the Monarchs added three transfers to the roster for the upcoming 2025 season.

Arriving in Norfolk is WR Sidney Mbanasor from Tulane (6-5, 210 with three years of eligibility left), S James “Trey” Caver III from Benedict College (5-11, 175 with three years of eligibility left) and RB Ke’travion Hargrove from Grambling, Memphis and Mississippi State (6-0, 205 with one year eligibility remaining).

🔼 Young Gun. The future of ODU lacrosse is a shining star in the form of Sarah Murrell.

All season long, she lit up opposing defenses and earlier this week, she was recognized for it when she was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, as well as a unanimous First Team All-Conference selection.

Her teammate, senior defender McKenzie Raech earned a spot on the All-Conference Second Team.

🔼 Ticket Punched. This week, the ODU sailing team earned their ticket.

That’s right, the Monarchs were selected to participate in the ICSA Women’s Fleet Race National Championship and the ICSA Open Fleet Race National Championship. The races will take place on May 20-23 & May 27-30, 2025, in St.Mary’s, MD. 

They were one of 36 teams that were granted an at-large bid. They finished fifth during the conference race and finished tenth at the conference championship with a total score of 234. 

🎥 INSIDE THE ACTION

🦁 MONARCH TRIVIA

Today marks the sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance for the ODU women’s tennis program.

How many other women’s tennis Division I programs have made each of the past six NCAA Tournaments?

Got a guess?

Scroll to the bottom to find the answer!

📅 ON THE DOCKET

Friday, May 2nd
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Florida Atlantic @ 1pm (NCAA Tournament - Durham, N.C.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Kentucky @ 2pm (NCAA Tournament - Winston-Salem, N.C.)
⚾️ Baseball vs. Marshall @ 6pm (War Memorial Stadium)

Saturday, May 3rd
⚾️ Baseball vs. Marshall @ 3pm (War Memorial Stadium)

Sunday, May 4th
⚾️ Baseball vs. Marshall @ 1pm (War Memorial Stadium)

📬 SHARE THE BREW

Do you know a friend or family member who is a Monarch fan?

Simply forward them this email and they can sign up to receive the brew by clicking the link below to subscribe. The Brew is sent every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and is completely free!

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 25.

That’s right, ODU is one of just 25 Division I schools to play in each of the past six NCAA Tournaments.

🦁 Let’s have a great weekend!