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Why ODU Tennis Keeps Winning | Dom Manilla & Dominik Mueller
Episode 143 • 24th August 2026 • The Monarchists • The Monarchists
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Why does Old Dominion continue to win at such a high level in college tennis?

ODU Women's Tennis Head Coach Dom Manilla and ODU Men's Tennis Head Coach Dominik Mueller join Aaron and Mike for a wide-ranging conversation about the championship culture both programs have built — and what it takes to sustain that success as college athletics changes around them.

The two Doms take us inside their different approaches to recruiting, roster construction, NIL and the transfer portal, including why Mueller believes the portal has actually opened doors for ODU to land better freshmen.

They also tackle a much bigger issue facing college athletics: tennis programs around the country being eliminated as athletic departments face increasing financial pressure. Manilla explains why winning, fundraising, community support and running a first-class program have never been more important.

Plus:

🎾 Why ODU tennis has been so consistently successful

🎾 The culture behind both programs

🎾 International recruiting and developing players at ODU

🎾 Why Fowlkes-Stevens is a major advantage

🎾 ODU's changing campus and student-athlete experience

🎾 The addition of Ashley Anthon to the women's tennis staff

🎾 NIL, the transfer portal and college tennis' new “money race”

🎾 The alarming disappearance of college tennis programs

🎾 Pickleball invading the tennis world

🎾 ODU's growing pipeline to professional tennis

🎾 Yuliia Starodubtseva's rise on the pro tour

🎾 Who wins if Dom plays Dom?

🎾 Rafa, Djokovic, Sabalenka and the best players they've seen live

🎾 Why college tennis is NOTHING like the country-club version you see on TV

🎾 And the proper way for Monarch Nation to get LOUD at an ODU tennis match

Manilla's challenge to Monarch Nation is simple: come to one ODU tennis match and see if you don't want to come back.

ODU Women's Tennis opens its home schedule January 30 against Florida State, followed by home matches with Kansas and Maryland in early February.

🌐 ODUMonarchists.com

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This episode is presented with support from the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation. Become a member and help create winners in the classroom, in athletic competition and in life.

Go Monarchs!

#ODU #OldDominion #ODUTennis #OldDominionTennis #Monarchs #MonarchNation #TheMonarchists #CollegeTennis #sunbelt

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Dom & Dommer

01:00 The State of ODU Tennis

02:30 The Pressure to Keep Winning

04:00 Why Does ODU Tennis Win So Much?

07:30 Building Fowlkes-Stevens

09:30 Recruiting Internationally

11:30 What Makes the Ideal ODU Tennis Recruit?

13:30 Bringing International Players to ODU

15:45 How Much Has ODU Changed?

18:00 The Student-Athlete Dining Hall & Selling ODU

20:00 Ashley Anthon Joins ODU Women's Tennis

23:00 NIL, the Transfer Portal & 5-for-5

24:00 Why the Transfer Portal Has HELPED ODU

27:00 The New “Money Race” in College Athletics

27:30 Why College Tennis Programs Are Disappearing

30:00 Winning, Fundraising & Protecting Your Program

32:00 Pickleball Takes Over

35:00 Agassi, Jack Sock & Tennis Stars Playing Pickleball

38:30 ODU's Pipeline to Professional Tennis

40:00 Yuliia Starodubtseva & ODU on the Pro Tour

42:00 Rapid Fire: Dom vs. Dom

43:30 Where ODU Tennis Players Eat

45:30 Grass, Clay or Hard Court?

48:00 Rafa, Djokovic & Sabalenka

49:00 Creating an Elite ODU Tennis Atmosphere

50:00 College Tennis Is NOT a Country-Club Sport

54:30 How Monarch Nation Should Cheer at Tennis

58:00 Players, Officials & Talking Trash

1:00:00 Florida State Comes to Norfolk

1:01:00 Go Monarchs!

Transcripts

ODAF Intro:

This episode is brought to you by the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation.

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Because of you, we create winners

in the classroom, in athletic

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competition, and in life.

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Become a member today

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Aaron: Monarch Nation, welcome

back to the Monarchists podcast.

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Today, and we haven't done this before

and I'm excited, uh, I was just having

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a conversation with someone at work

today, someone who's much younger

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than me, about the movie, , Dumb

and Dumber, how it's just so funny.

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, But today we've got our own episode.

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It'll be like Dom and Dommer.

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We've got Dom Manilla, Dominick Mueller,

the men's and women's tennis coaches at

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Old Dominion, talking about excellence.

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Welcome back to the world's

best and only ODU podcast

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Dominic Manilla: Thanks for having us.

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Dominik Mueller: Thanks for having us.

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Excited to be here.

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Aaron: All right, fellas.

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Thanks for having us.

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This question's for both of you.

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Consistent excellence in tennis, and

we'll just- Yeah … mike and I are

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both wearing our tennis school shirts

today because you guys have built

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programs that define excellence, and

consistently are winning conference

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championships, going to NCAA tournaments.

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Both of you talk about kind of the

state of the program and kind of

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Old Dominion tennis as a whole.

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Dominik Mueller: You are.

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I think, um, you know, it's, it

probably sounds cliche, but it's

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all about the people, right?

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I think, um, both programs, we're

very fortunate that we are we're

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working with a great administration.

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We probably have the most supportive

AD when it comes to tennis,

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when it comes to Olympic sports.

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Um, I think both of us have been very

fortunate to find the right assistant

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coaches to help us along the way

to build these programs, and then

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we, we, we found the right players.

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I think, um, it, it all starts there.

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Obviously you need talent, right?

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There's no doubt about that, and I

think we found that along the way, too.

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But there's no doubt in my mind that

every, every kid that walked through

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the doors in the last 10 years that

I've been here on both programs

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have been amazing human beings and

that's where it starts in my eyes.

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Dominic Manilla: Absolutely.

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I echo what Dom says.

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Just great culture great people

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Mike: All right, so this

is gonna be for you, Mr.

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Manin- Manila, my neighbor.

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All right.

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So you guys both have s- created these

fantastic programs that have succeeded far

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beyond probably Wood's imagination with

the consistent conference championships

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and trips to the NCAA tournament.

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But when you're starting a new season

each year in this whole port- portal era,

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is there stress involved to keep that

up there, or is it more of like, "Look,

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I got these girls, I'm gonna develop

them, and we'll see where we end up"?

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Dominic Manilla: Yeah, there's

a lot of stress, you know.

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And it's interesting 'cause you, we

kind of create, uh, more stress for

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ourselves, um, now that, Dom's won

a bunch, I've won a bunch, and, uh,

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the, the thought of not winning one is

really out of a horror movie for us.

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You know, we put that type of

pressure on ourselves, which, which

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leads to that, that type of success.

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And, you know, I think in, in our

positions you want somebody who,

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who feels that way, who, who sleeps

with that type of pressure and

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takes that with them to get it done.

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'Cause it, it is hard to do.

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It's hard to win one, but to keep

winning them is extremely hard.

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And, uh, I'll…

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I can say without a doubt that every

year I feel the pressure as if, um,

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you know, it's, it's starting all over.

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It's starting all over.

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And, uh, you know, no matter who

you got, the amount of talent you

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got, you f- you feel it big time.

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You wanna deliver for Monarch

Nation, absolutely, and

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it's so important to do that

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Aaron: So I don't know how many

programs there are around the

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country where both the women's and

the men's programs have won at such

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a consistent and such a high level.

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There can't be a ton of them.

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What has ODU figured out

that the others haven't?

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Dominik Mueller: Again, I think

it starts with our administration.

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I think they set us up for success.

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I don't wanna brag about it.

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I think, yeah they found the right

head coaches obviously, and I think

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in general, our administration

is doing a great job doing that.

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You know, I, I, I think one thing that's

very interesting is that the women's

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side, uh, Dom on the women's side and

me on the men's side, we're, we're

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still running our program differently.

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If you go into details, we have

different philosophies about recruiting.

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We have different philosophies about

NIL, different philosophies about

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scheduling, so it's not like we're

just doing the exact same thing.

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Yes, we are the same sport, but at the end

we're doing a lot of things differently,

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which is actually also a lot of fun.

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We bounce a lot of

ideas off of each other.

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We, we brainstorm, but since we

have, this different outlook it's

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a lot of fun to, you know, to ask

him when I have a question because,

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yeah, he runs it differently.

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But I think I think where, where, where

I'm going at this is that, we, we're

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not just winning because we're tennis.

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It's not like for whatever reason

we have this niche in tennis.

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It's you can win at ODU in a

lot of different ways, right?

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I think there's some schools that win

because, yeah, there's a plan A and

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there's no plan B, and yeah, with us doing

it a different way, I think it shows you

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that, that we're just set up for success.

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And then I think the,

the other thing we, we…

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I think both programs have done a

good job of, finding a recipe that

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works for them and continuing it,

but making sure that every year you,

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you gotta make some twists, right?

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You, you cannot stay old school and

say, "Well, what's worked for us five

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years ago is gonna work," so you gotta

still adapt to the challenges that,

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that arise every single year, and yeah,

it's a combination of those two things.

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Dominic Manilla: Yeah, I, I, you know what

Dom said about we do things differently.

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We definitely do.

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It kind of creates this cool little

thick t- think tank over here 'cause

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we, either he's in my office or

I'm in his office nearly every day.

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You know, I'd, I'd like to think that

a, a small part of the time that we're

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being productive when we're talking.

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You know, a lot of times we're

just kind of shooting it, but,

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and, you know, he, he's right.

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The administration has set us up

for success, and the resources

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that they give us, you know, they

have to match the results, right?

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You know, like, if, if you're putting a

ton of resources into a team, you need to

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have a ton of results out of that team.

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And the, you know, they've

put result- uh, excuse me.

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They've put resources into our programs

in certain areas, and I think that Dom and

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I do a good job of capitalizing on that.

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Now, there's also areas that

they just Old Dominion, us being

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a major mid, not a, you know.

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Us being a major mid, that we're gonna

be a little bit behind the ball on

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some other, some of our competition.

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But Dom and I do a good job of

figuring those things out, balancing

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budgets, making sure that we're

raising money in our own ways

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that we can continue to do that.

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Because, we have the resources

to be successful here, and we've

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found a way to capitalize on them.

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Mike: So speaking of resources, uh-

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No, go ahead

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Dominik Mueller: I think when Dom

talks about resources, like yes,

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obviously, yeah, we're, we are limited

in certain areas, but one thing

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is like I've never heard him and

I don't think he has ever heard me

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complain that we don't have enough.

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I think with Dom mentioned

that we're making it happen.

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Yeah

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Yeah.

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Can we do more?

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Absolutely.

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We would like to have more in certain

areas, but I think, you know, we've,

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we've figured out that yeah what we need

to do and what we can do with what we're-

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Mike: All right, so I, I

wanna talk about the facility.

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Obviously, Fowlkes-Stevens is a

beautiful facility for tennis, but

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Old Dominion and the program has

invested in this, the facility the

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last few years, resurfacing the outdoor

courts, beautiful new scoreboard.

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So talk to us about that commitment

from Old Dominion and what that

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facility means to you guys.

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Dominic Manilla: The, the

cool thing, uh, 'cause I, I…

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When I played here, we didn't have this,

and then so all of a sudden we had it,

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and it's just every single year Wood has

added something to it every single year,

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whether it's like, hey, like you said,

resurfacing the courts or fixing fences

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or, you know, enhancing our windscreens,

adding banners in the building.

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Uh, and then this past year,

you know, probably our biggest

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add has been that beautiful

scoreboard from the Beavers family.

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And, you know, I think that's just been

the neat thing about it, is just it

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just keeps enhancing every single year.

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And so there's always a sense of

excitement around the facility

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every single year because the

way that Wood's managed it.

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It hasn't been just, "Hey, 10 years

ago we got this," and then it's all

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kind of gotten a little stale now.

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And, now it's just every, every year we

kind of, we pad it with something new.

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That's pretty neat.

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It's a great recruiting piece for us.

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App State just built a nice indoor.

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They don't sponsor men's tennis,

but they sponsor women's tennis.

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You know, I think that the, the rest of

the conferences, they're kind of, they're

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kind of catching up, you know, a little

bit, but, uh, you know, our, our facility

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reigns supreme in the Sun Belt, for sure.

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Aaron: So we just lost one

of the Doms for a second.

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Hopefully he'll pop back on in time

to answer this question with you.

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But you were talking about recruiting.

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Yeah.

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So from a recruiting standpoint-

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I'm kind of interested in this, and

I don't know what the rules are with

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regards to men's and women's tennis and

what you can and can't do resources-wise.

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But both of you guys have and

continue to recruit internationally

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with a lot of success.

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So with two programs that although you

operate differently and have different

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philosophies, you obviously are sharing

ideas a lot, as you were just discussing.

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When you're recruiting internationally,

if you happen to, uh, see someone

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playing or visiting, do you ever see…

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you know, if you're, you're out

looking at women's players but you

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happen to run across a men's player

whom you know what Dom likes and vice

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versa, are you guys able to kind of

share notes or say, "Hey, I saw this.

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You might be interested"?

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How can…

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Is there ever complementary

types of things in the

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recruiting front for you guys?

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Dominic Manilla: So the most

frequently frequent way we share

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recruits is with our emails.

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A lot of times I'll get emails

that are meant to be directed

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to that Dom and, and vice versa.

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So we're like, "Hey, I think this

is for you," that type of thing.

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But other than that, you know,

we both recruit at a high level.

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We're going after the best junior

players, uh, in the world, and

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we're, we're going against, you know,

the, from the professional ranks.

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So a lot of times if we're traveling or

if we're seeing pros, we're going through

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draws, it's pretty much organized by, hey,

there's, there's male and there's female.

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So it's not like I'm gonna be seeing

too many male players on the road.

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Now that being said if I come

across a German player, first

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person I'm asking is Dom.

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You know, I say, "Hey, look

into or call your contacts.

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Let me know."

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You know, and if, if he hits somebody

in Eastern Europe where we have

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tons of contacts or in South America

where we have good contacts, he'll

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hit m- hit me up about it, you know.

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So we sh- we share that, but am I

actively looking for male players for Dom?

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No.

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Nobody's better at identifying

a male player to come play

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at Old Dominion than Dom.

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Uh, f- Dom Mueller.

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And, uh, you know, I think nobody

identifies, uh, female players

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the way that, uh, I do and

our staff has been able to do.

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Mike: I'm not sure.

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Oh, I think we lost him again.

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Um-

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Dominic Manilla: Mueller.

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Mike: I wa- I was gonna ask him

this, but I'll ask you it instead.

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Um, obviously in tennis there's a lot

of different ways to win as a player.

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Dominic Manilla: Yeah.

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Mike: Is there, when you're out

recruiting, is there a certain type

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that if you had your ideal player,

what does that player look like?

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'Cause we've seen all types at

Old Dominion that you've won with.

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Dominic Manilla: Yeah.

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Yeah, it's, it's not like basketball

where it's like, oh, Mike,

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everybody put pressure on Mike,

he's gotta go get a big, you know?

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I don- I don't need, I don't have

that and most tennis coaches don't.

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You know, it's very much a result-based

recruiting project that we, we tackle.

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And so, you know, if you, if you're

winning a lot, that's usually

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somebody I'll be interested in.

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You know, my, my method of, you know,

identifying recruits early is that

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I wait for somebody to send me a…

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I don't wait, but if somebody sends me

a player and they say, "This player's

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really good," what I'll do is I'll look

'em up, I'll look at their results,

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and then I, first thing I do is look

for somebody they lost to, and then

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I'll start tracking that person that

beat 'em, and then I find somebody that

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beat them, and that's usually who, who

I'll, I'll start going after, you know?

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So, you know, I use, use

those types of benchmarks.

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But results are, are king

or queen in, in our sense.

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But you know, I, I think that there are

programs that go after kinda like, you

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want a, a grinder mentality, you know?

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And I, I think that, that's a given

to be successful at the D1 level.

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You know, you want somebody

who's passionate who wants to

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play, who loves the sport, who

loves their trade, you know?

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'Cause you're, you're kinda teetering

between it being, you know, talent

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and something fun, and something

being, an art form for them, you know?

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And that's for all sports.

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And so, you know, I think that it's,

it's hard to find somebody who isn't

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passionate about the sport who can

come and can contribute at this level.

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So I, I would say passion is

something that is, uh, non-negotiable.

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Aaron: So welcome back, Dom.

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Hopefully we got your audio,

we got your video here.

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Continuing on the, the recruiting

front, I know that I've talked with

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Dom Manilla about this before, but

recruiting on the international front,

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sometimes when you're recruiting your

student athletes to come over, they may

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have not ever had a chance to actually

come and visit Old Dominion in person.

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So making that transition when they come

and they, they arrive at ODU, they walk

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into Folkes-Stevens for the first time,

like, how do you help them adjust to life

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at Old Dominion, life in the United States

and all those non-tennis related things?

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Dominik Mueller: Yeah, that's, uh, that,

that's the, that's a great question.

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I think it all starts actually with

the, with the culture that we set, and

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it's passed on by the other players.

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And I think we've created such a

strong culture that us as coaches, we

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have to do less and less with that.

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I think they walk into a well-functioning

ma- machine where the guys in the locker

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room teach them, yeah you know, what

it's about, what they need to know.

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They hold them accountable, because they

also went through the same thing as well.

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Yeah, so it's sort of a learning curve

that's being passed on from one generation

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to the other, and that took time, right?

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I think, I think that's also why

you see here we obviously had a

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great run the last four, five years.

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But in between, we had a couple

of years where, where, where we

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didn't win championships, and, and I

think that was a little bit of that

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growing pain or, yeah, it took us a

little bit to to get to that point.

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And now the last couple of

years, it's a little bit of a…

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Yeah, as I said, this, this well-run

machine where I don't have to do

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that much when it comes to that part.

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Yeah.

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Uh, o- once they walk in the door yeah,

we are yeah it's a well-oiled machine

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right now, and, yeah, that doesn't mean

it's gonna continue forever, right?

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You gotta pay attention

that it do- doesn't stop.

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I can just lean back.

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But right now I have, yeah, I'm

fortunate that for, uh, for the

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last two, three years that, uh, I

can just watch and observe when it

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comes to that aspect of our team.

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Mike: All right.

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Uh, we talked a little bit about the , the

facility, but Old Dominion, since me

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and Dom got introduced to Old Dominion,

th- this campus has changed a lot.

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New dorms being built new academic

buildings being built, and also the

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new student athlete dining hall.

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So over your tenure here, but

for both of you, the campus has

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changed a lot for the better.

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How much, or if you had to pick one

thing other than the tennis facility

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that's really making your players

happy what do you think it would be?

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Dominic Manilla: Oh, Mike, that's a tough

one for me to answer, man, uh, 'cause,

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you know, we've gone through, you and I

have gone, seen a lot change, you know,

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from football to you know, new buildings

on campus to the village exploding to,

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you know, different, different basketball

coaches to different football coaches

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to Ricky Rahne to Taylor Heineke.

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I mean, just the success of all of it,

I think that you know, I think President

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Hemphill does a great job of making this

universe EVMS, guys, that's unbelievable.

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You know, our alma mater, well, not, not

yours, Aaron, I'm sorry, Mike, our, our

307

:

alma mater has a medical school now, man.

308

:

That's unbelievable, man.

309

:

You know, just those, those senses

of, those points of pride, you know,

310

:

for me as an, as an alumni, you

know, I take great pride in that,

311

:

you know, those types of things.

312

:

And I think that, you know, when our, our

players walk around campus, there's great

313

:

points of pride for all of it, you know?

314

:

And you know, I was just recruiting a

new asso- associate head coach, Ashley

315

:

Anthol, and we were walking around and

she's told her- she told me that one of

316

:

her, her, um, most significant mentors

told her, "Always go somewhere and look to

317

:

be a part of a place that's, uh, they're

constantly building and there's under

318

:

construction, and you see the cranes."

319

:

And man, Old Dominion has had a crane

on its campus for years, you know,

320

:

'cause we're just always building

and it's always getting better.

321

:

So I find it hard to pinpoint

one thing that they really like.

322

:

The dining hall has been a

shining star for us the past year.

323

:

That was just, um, I think there's

a little bit of pushback, um, but

324

:

at the end I think it ended up being

a, a home run for our department.

325

:

Um, you know, I, I think it's a great

community hub where athletes get

326

:

together, our team gets together there.

327

:

You know, I, I think it's wonderful.

328

:

I think it's wonderful

329

:

Aaron: So it looks like

we might have lost-

330

:

Dominik Mueller: Yeah, I think that-

331

:

Aaron: Dom.

332

:

Oh, they- keep…

333

:

Go ahead, Dom.

334

:

Dominic Manilla: Oh he's

335

:

Dominik Mueller: there.

336

:

Yeah, s- I'm sorry.

337

:

Yeah, no, I think the dining hall

is just the most immediate impact,

338

:

like directly for our athletes.

339

:

I think it's, from the first

day on they came back smiling.

340

:

They are, they, they couldn't be

more thrilled about the quality of

341

:

the food and it's just a, it's just

an impact direct enhancement for

342

:

all our student athletes on campus.

343

:

Now everything else, the buildings,

that's obviously the cherry on top.

344

:

Yeah, I think all the visiting teams

that are coming here that, that haven't

345

:

been here or, or as you mentioned before,

new recruits, I hear all the time,

346

:

"Oh, I had no idea how nice ODU is."

347

:

Yeah.

348

:

And I think that's sometimes where

we gotta do a better job of telling

349

:

that story, 'cause we all know that.

350

:

Yeah, we all know that.

351

:

I think people in the Sun Belt know that.

352

:

I actually think people at College

Tennis know that, but I think in

353

:

general across the country that it's

definitely a point that we gotta start

354

:

selling more because, again, ODU is, I

mean, it, it's a little treasure chest.

355

:

Dominic Manilla: Yeah.

356

:

I mean, just look at- Yeah

357

:

our hire in women's soccer.

358

:

To, to, for us to attract- Yeah … a

conference champion from another Sun Belt

359

:

school to Old Dominion, that just says

so much about what we can offer here.

360

:

You know, I, I think that's such a

significant hire on so many levels

361

:

that we're able to attract Will here.

362

:

I think they play Virginia Tech

Thursday in this first, uh, the first,

363

:

first big one at the helm of Old

Dominion's, uh, squad on the pitch.

364

:

So I think we'll see a lot of

success out of that program.

365

:

Aaron: Look at you with

your football language, Dom.

366

:

Anyway-

367

:

Dominic Manilla: I'm trying, I'm trying.

368

:

Aaron: Two minutes ago you

mentioned your new coach, Ashley.

369

:

Dominic Manilla: Oh.

370

:

Aaron: So can you take a few

minutes to talk about Ashley?

371

:

I, I was reading the

article, the press release.

372

:

I mean, someone who's been

a, a head coach at App State

373

:

coming from Clemson, I believe.

374

:

Talk about the hire how you guys

came together and what it's gonna

375

:

mean for you and the program.

376

:

Dominic Manilla: Y- you know, it, it was

important to me that, you know, we…

377

:

First of all, our previous assistant

have just elevated the position

378

:

into something that's just a really

respectful position, I think.

379

:

I think it's just a…

380

:

You know, to be the associate

head coach at Old Dominion Women's

381

:

Tennis Program, I think means a lot.

382

:

You know, I think it's

a respected position.

383

:

And so we didn't want to just, hey,

hire somebody who interviewed well, or

384

:

hire somebody who was a great player.

385

:

You know, we wanted to make

sure we had the right character.

386

:

You know, first of all, we needed

a talented coach, you know.

387

:

But somebody who has the right character,

who's the right fit at Old Dominion,

388

:

who can fill in the footsteps of,

uh, you know, Coach Bickford and then

389

:

Coach Sokolenko, who came before.

390

:

And I'm, I'm very proud of that.

391

:

I've been here 16 years.

392

:

I'm only on my third you

know, associate head.

393

:

You know, I think our

retention's been good.

394

:

That's credit to Bruce, that's credit

to Wood, that's credit to the entire

395

:

department that we retain, coaches here.

396

:

We retain winners and good people.

397

:

So Ashley was always somebody that

I hadn't had my eye on and I, I kind

398

:

of knew that at some point I was

gonna work with her in some capacity.

399

:

I, I felt that way about Yana

be- prior to her working here.

400

:

I knew in some capacity I was-- I really

wanted to work with Yana in some capacity.

401

:

I was lucky enough to get her as our

associate head for eight years, and I was

402

:

able to do the same thing with Ashley.

403

:

Ashley's a, a fantastic coach.

404

:

When she was at App State, um,

she was building that program

405

:

at light speed, and I, uh, I

remember talking to Bruce about it.

406

:

It was like, "Uh, she's

gonna be a problem."

407

:

You know, 'cause it-- you could

feel that, hey, her presence, her

408

:

demeanor on the court was excellent.

409

:

You know, when we're down

there coaching, you know, we're

410

:

not that far from each other.

411

:

You know, I hear what she's saying.

412

:

I hear the type of motivational

phrases she's using or h- what

413

:

she's getting out of the players.

414

:

And she was a coach that I really-- that

really struck me that she could, s- lack

415

:

of a, a, a better way to say it, she could

squeeze everything out of her players to

416

:

get them to compete at the highest level

that they were capable of competing at.

417

:

And something else that, that struck

me about her is I think a good tennis

418

:

coach, they can have the ability to

have a strong presence on the court.

419

:

Hey, your player knows that you're there,

and you are making yourself known and

420

:

you're making an impact on the match.

421

:

But they also have the ability

sometimes to just sit on a

422

:

court and almost be invisible.

423

:

And I think that was-- you know, and

then she can just let her players play.

424

:

And I was impressed with Ashley

that she had that ability.

425

:

You know, when she went to Clemson,

I kind of breathed a sigh of relief.

426

:

"Okay, we got her out of App State.

427

:

That's good.

428

:

She's-- she elevated herself to

a, a position at Clemson to work

429

:

for a great program down there."

430

:

And then we were able to, we were

able to steal her, so I'm, I'm

431

:

really excited to work with Ashley.

432

:

I think she's wonderful.

433

:

She's a great person.

434

:

Her players think very highly of her.

435

:

Um, she's been around the team a little

bit so far, um, you know, as our,

436

:

our players are starting to come back

in, and, um, nothing but positive.

437

:

And I'm really excited for where

Ashley can help us take this program.

438

:

Mike: All right, fellas.

439

:

So since you guys have started at Old

Dominion, a lot has changed in the NCAA.

440

:

The portal gets introduced, uh, NIL

gets introduced, and now we have this

441

:

five for five thing being introduced.

442

:

So talk to us about how those imp- those

changes have impacted roster building

443

:

for you and how you guys have adapted

444

:

Dominik Mueller: Wow.

445

:

We- we're still in the

middle of it, right?

446

:

Yeah, and then you're throwing in

potentially the, the visa restrictions

447

:

for internationals, potentially, right?

448

:

That they can only four years,

so maybe, so the excitement of

449

:

them getting five years, well,

maybe that gets cut to four years.

450

:

So there's some question marks

there, and then, yeah, you ask the

451

:

same question in half a year, we

might have something else going on.

452

:

I think at the end of the day,

on our side, we try to stay

453

:

true to what has worked for us.

454

:

And for us, it actually has been over

the years our freshman recruiting.

455

:

We had y- big success

in freshman recruiting.

456

:

We just learned over the years that

the freshmen, they come in, they are,

457

:

they're excited to come to the States.

458

:

They're excited.

459

:

They immediately from the

first day, they love ODU.

460

:

They love the school.

461

:

They love going to football games.

462

:

And you just don't find that same

excitement usually from transfers, right?

463

:

They have, and I don't really

mean it in a bad way, but

464

:

there's a little baggage, right?

465

:

You are used to something for one or

two or three years at another school.

466

:

And these freshmen, they're raw.

467

:

You can really work with them.

468

:

So the transfer portal from that

standpoint has actually been good for

469

:

us because, you know, all these big

schools they're trying to get a transfer.

470

:

They're trying to get the older kid

with experience, which has helped us

471

:

to get better freshmen, quite frankly.

472

:

We've gotten looks, and we are able

to sign freshmen that we weren't

473

:

able two, three, four years ago,

yeah, because of those changes.

474

:

You know, and for us, you know, the,

the freshmen that we are talking about,

475

:

NIL, NIL doesn't really come up yet.

476

:

They come up with the transfers.

477

:

So for men's tennis, those changes

have all been actually good for us.

478

:

Yeah.

479

:

Do I like the way this

is going in general?

480

:

No.

481

:

I think, yeah, the amounts that

are also spent in tennis, I

482

:

think they're getting ridiculous.

483

:

Yeah.

484

:

But I have to admit, selfishly,

those changes, I think there's

485

:

been more pros for us than cons.

486

:

Dominic Manilla: Yeah.

487

:

I mean, for us, I think,

Old Dominion tennis is neat.

488

:

You know?

489

:

It's neat.

490

:

Our success is neat on the national level.

491

:

It's a neat thing.

492

:

It's a cool thing.

493

:

I think one of the coolest,

neatest animals is a chameleon,

494

:

and you gotta be able to blend in.

495

:

You gotta be able to work with what

you're, what's, uh, the hand you're dealt.

496

:

And, um, you know, it's

changing every year.

497

:

But Dom and I have to have the ability

that, you know, we have to, you know,

498

:

hone our talents in different ways and…

499

:

But that's part of being a, a good

coach these days, is being able to

500

:

adapt and, uh, keep up with the times.

501

:

And, you know, and there's

plenty of coaches out there

502

:

who just said, "You know what?

503

:

I'm gonna throw my hands up.

504

:

I'm done."

505

:

All due respect in the world to them,

but, you know, like, at this point in

506

:

my career and, in, it seems like in

Dom's career, I'm not gonna speak for

507

:

Dom, but, you know, we're, we're at a

point in our careers that we are more

508

:

than willing to adapt in the name of,

uh, you know, putting up the right

509

:

type of results for Old Dominion.

510

:

And, uh, some more energy for sure.

511

:

You know, you gotta, you gotta look

at different things and it's a, you

512

:

know, you gotta balance things a little

bit differently, but we're capable.

513

:

Mueller's capable.

514

:

And I think we've been doing a, a pretty

good job with it, I think programs

515

:

like ours, you know, the major mids, we

get hit by the, the bigger power four

516

:

schools, but, none of us are-- we're

not losing players to Sun Belt teams.

517

:

You know, we're not in that situation.

518

:

We're lose- if we lose a player,

it's to a significant, significant

519

:

program with significant resources,

and that's gonna invest significant

520

:

resources into them, personally.

521

:

So I, I see that path and I

definitely don't fault the players

522

:

for playing the game as well.

523

:

You know, they, they have a future beyond

college, and sometimes if they have,

524

:

they're being offered resources that

can help them beyond graduation, then I

525

:

can't fault them for taking those things.

526

:

But, you know, just, before this facility,

it was an arms race before in every sport.

527

:

Now it's, uh, now it's a money race,

and I think eventually it'll settle down

528

:

and it's gonna be something different.

529

:

So it's always, we're always gonna

be having to adapt in our position.

530

:

If we wanna stay kind of a, a cool,

interesting program at Old Dominion,

531

:

we're gonna have to adapt to keep up

532

:

Aaron: Now you just mentioned an

arms race and now a money race.

533

:

So 22 NCAA programs were eliminated

just during the:

534

:

I think nine were Division 1.

535

:

So when you see a school like

Arkansas, an SEC school that's got

536

:

massive resources eliminate both

men's and women's tennis, are there

537

:

things going through y'all's mind?

538

:

Are those things that are potentially

strategic advantages for both of your

539

:

programs, or just overall thoughts on the

changing landscape of college athletics

540

:

and how it's affecting everything?

541

:

Dominic Manilla: Mueller,

you wanna go ahead?

542

:

Dominik Mueller: Yeah, I think, you

know, I mean, I came w- 20 years

543

:

ago to play college tennis myself.

544

:

I coached for, what is that now?

545

:

15, 16 years.

546

:

So yeah, the fact that tennis programs

have been cut, or it's been-- I think

547

:

it's been the most cut program most

cut sport in the last 20 years or so.

548

:

I it's not new.

549

:

I think what really changed was that now

women's programs are getting cut as well.

550

:

I think for, for a long time it was

men's tennis, you know, mainly, obviously

551

:

saving money, but also Title IX.

552

:

But I think two, three years ago

you started seeing women's tennis

553

:

programs being cut and that was, yeah,

it was even more of a game changer.

554

:

I think that shows, yeah, the, the

pressure that those administrations

555

:

feel, yeah, to funnel the, the, the

funds to- towards football and basketball

556

:

and the money-generating programs

and, and we all understand it, right?

557

:

I think we all understand why this

is happening and then, and I'm pretty

558

:

sure none of these administrators and

those ADs are enjoying their decisions.

559

:

But you know, like even

success doesn't save you.

560

:

You know, we played Gardner-Webb

this year in the first round of

561

:

the NCAs and their program got cut,

yeah, after winning the conference,

562

:

after making the NCA tournament.

563

:

You know, it's, it's not just unsuccessful

programs and especially when you

564

:

see, yeah, programs like Arkansas.

565

:

Yeah, luckily was, uh, was

reinstated after a month.

566

:

Yeah, they, they gave them some time

to come up with the funds and they did.

567

:

But if you see that an SEC school

is making that move or thinking

568

:

that move then it's a scary thought

and it shows you all yeah, that we

569

:

really gotta do a good job staying

involved with the community, which I

570

:

think we're doing a phenomenal job.

571

:

And not just the tennis programs,

I think all ODU programs.

572

:

Yeah I think you see all of our

programs we involve the community.

573

:

And that's key to staying relevant and,

and yeah, making sure that, that people

574

:

and all administrators and everyone

around involved understands that at the

575

:

end this is still bigger than the, than

all of us and bigger than money and that

576

:

we're doing this for the right reasons.

577

:

Dominic Manilla: Yeah, I think

it it's alarming, but I don't

578

:

really think about it like, "Ooh,

that, that could happen to us."

579

:

It, 'cause it, it very

well could, you know?

580

:

But, but anything can happen

in any day, any given day.

581

:

I, I try not to operate with

a sense of fear about it.

582

:

You know, I just keep

trucking on, and if…

583

:

You know, i- and I think at every

mid-major, there's somebody who's

584

:

floated that idea to the AD.

585

:

You know?

586

:

Like, "Hey let's cut tennis," and,

uh, and you just gotta make sure that

587

:

you have, You know, and Garner-Webb

is the ex- I, I kinda feel like

588

:

it's a little bit of an exception.

589

:

Um, but you know, you gotta make

sure that when somebody throws that

590

:

idea, that, you know, you've given

them the ammo for your AD to say,

591

:

"That's an absolutely ridiculous idea.

592

:

Why would we do that?"

593

:

You know, it comes down to being a

successful program, running a clean

594

:

program, there's no violations.

595

:

You're not in the newspaper

for the wrong reasons.

596

:

You know, you're not making

the news for the wrong reasons.

597

:

You're, you're in the news

for the right reasons.

598

:

You're in the paper for the right

reasons, and you're fundraising

599

:

at a, at a level where your AD can

feel like, "Oh, y- he didn't just

600

:

raise a few dollars here or there.

601

:

He's raising money at a level that I

don't, that, that saves me dollars."

602

:

Every dollar I raise is a dollar that Dr.

603

:

Seiler doesn't have to spend, and

it goes towards tipping the scale

604

:

towards, preserving our program.

605

:

But I don't operate with fear

that that's gonna happen.

606

:

If that happens, you know, I know that

I've done my job to the best of my

607

:

ability and Mule has done his job to the

best of our ability, that that decision

608

:

would be extremely hard for them, 'cause

we both fundraise at a high level.

609

:

We both win at a high level.

610

:

And, um, you know, Jenna Verga, who's

the director of our foundation, she

611

:

raises, She's as good of a fundraiser

as in the entire Sun Belt, you know?

612

:

And there's not really many

other programs that can come

613

:

close to what Jenna can tout.

614

:

She's excellent, so you know.

615

:

Mike: All right, so this is gonna

be a little bit of a different

616

:

question, but last few years we've

seen kind of the rise of pickleball.

617

:

Old Dominion has kind of embraced it by

allowing them to play at Folkes-Stevens.

618

:

To me, it seems like a good entry

path to becoming a tennis fan 'Cause

619

:

if you've never played tennis before

but you start playing pickleball, you

620

:

enjoy it, you enjoy the competition,

you're more likely to watch it and start

621

:

enjoying the wonderful game of tennis.

622

:

I'm, I'm interested to hear

what your guys' thoughts are on

623

:

pickleball and what it can do

for the sport of tennis possibly.

624

:

Dominik Mueller: N- n- no,

you can take this first, Dom.

625

:

Dominic Manilla: Look, I

think pickleball's wonderful.

626

:

I mean, it, it's creates a lot

of joy for a lot of people.

627

:

It's not for me.

628

:

That's, but I, I have n- no, no

ill feelings towards pickleball.

629

:

We have this joke now on the

public courts, um, you know, how

630

:

what's the difference between a, a

pickleball court and a tennis court?

631

:

Well, the tennis court's empty.

632

:

You know, people, people love to

play pickleball, and it's wonderful.

633

:

It's become a good, it's become a

good revenue stream for our facility.

634

:

Maybe Mueller can speak more

to that, but, I mean, revenue's

635

:

different than fundraising.

636

:

It's just two, it's two different

things, and it's created a great

637

:

revenue stream for our facility.

638

:

And, um, you know, like, like I

said before, every dollar we raise

639

:

or every dal- dollar we earn,

our facility earns, is a dollar

640

:

that, that we don't need to spend.

641

:

Hey, I'm all for pickleball, man.

642

:

That's taken a lot of pressure off the

facility, and it's raising a lot, it's

643

:

earning a lot of money for our facility.

644

:

Mike: Have you both invested in

headphones to deal with that noise?

645

:

'Cause to me, I hate

the noise of pickleball.

646

:

Aaron: Yeah.

647

:

Cluck,

648

:

Cluck.

649

:

Dominik Mueller: Yeah, no, I

think fortunately- Yeah, we

650

:

still play nine, maybe 10 months

of the year outside, right?

651

:

And I think the facility runs

an amazing program inside.

652

:

I think that's one of the reasons

it's been so successful is that people

653

:

can come and play pickleball inside.

654

:

And I don't know, maybe back then whenever

the facility was built, they saw it

655

:

coming, and now we're really fortunate

we have eight indoor courts that…

656

:

Yeah, I mean, pickleball, yeah, is, is,

m- a lot of times, yeah, occupies two

657

:

courts, and we can still run our, our

program, play our matches on six courts

658

:

without too much significant overlap.

659

:

So that's, it- it's, it's been

a good cooperation, I think.

660

:

Yeah.

661

:

It ties into what we talked about

before and what Dom alluded to.

662

:

It's, it's an revenue stream for our

facility, which keeps us relevant.

663

:

I think, um, you know, as pickleballers

and tennis players, we get along.

664

:

I have not seen too many people,

uh, overlap and then come

665

:

and cheer for us in matches.

666

:

I think that's the next step, that,

that we need them to come out and

667

:

also support us for our dual matches.

668

:

But overall, I think it's

been a very good experience.

669

:

When we started, it's what,

two, two and a half years ago?

670

:

Dominic Manilla: Yeah.

671

:

It's here, man.

672

:

That's for sure.

673

:

Aaron: Yeah.

674

:

Unfortunately, I don't think it's

going anywhere, and that, yeah,

675

:

I, I've got that sound going back

and forth in my head now, Mike.

676

:

All right, so I'll- Oh,

677

:

Dominic Manilla: you get, you

get, you get used to it, man.

678

:

You get used to it.

679

:

Aaron: I'm gonna build on this pickleball

thing since you brought it up, Mike.

680

:

There, there are some high-profile

former tennis pros that are

681

:

in the pickleball game now.

682

:

So what, which one would

you say is most surprising?

683

:

Like, how they were as a tennis player

back in the day, that if you had said

684

:

20, 25 years later that this, this dude

or this girl is gonna be a pro table

685

:

tennis giant, sort of player, who would

it, who would you be most surprised with?

686

:

Dominic Manilla: Well,

for me, it's Agassi.

687

:

I…

688

:

he seems to take a lot to

it, and he seems to be in it.

689

:

I don't think he's, like,

touring as a professional.

690

:

I will say that a lot of the top

pickleball players are former tennis

691

:

players, and I don- I don't see

many former tennis players kicking

692

:

butt on the pro tennis tours.

693

:

I might as well throw that

little trash talking out there.

694

:

But Agus- Agassi just being who he is and,

you know, his book open and his journey,

695

:

I'm surprised that h- his, the path that

he walks on has led him to pickleball.

696

:

I'm a little surprised about that.

697

:

Dominik Mueller: Yeah, I, I

guess I would go with Jack Sock.

698

:

And not that- Yeah

699

:

I mean, I think that the talent

level doesn't surprise anyone.

700

:

I think he was one of the most

talented players out there.

701

:

Yeah, but I don't think he was

ever the, maybe the, the most

702

:

in shape tennis players, right?

703

:

He switched to doubles fairly quickly.

704

:

And I guess I'm just surprised

that he's doing anything

705

:

physical after his tennis career.

706

:

Yeah, he didn't strike me as a

guy- … who was like, "You know what?

707

:

Let me be a pro in another sport."

708

:

He struck me more of a guy who, you

know, takes the prize money and does

709

:

maybe something entrepreneurial.

710

:

So I guess it's more surprise that he does

anything active after his tennis career.

711

:

And I hope he doesn't hear that and send

me a private message and hate on me.

712

:

Aaron: Now, one really quick follow-up.

713

:

I know Dom Manilla,

that you worked for Mr.

714

:

McEnroe for a little while,

his academy up there.

715

:

I don't know if he's a pickleball

guy or not, but what, what do you

716

:

think that he would think about

this pickleball transformation?

717

:

Dominic Manilla: I,

you know, I don't know.

718

:

You know, he's somebody that I knew a

little bit a long time ago, and, um, I

719

:

don't know where he would stand on it.

720

:

I do know that the academy has put

in a lot of pickleball lines, and

721

:

he probably takes the same approach

we do, is like, "Man, it's, you

722

:

know, that's, it sounds bad, but it

sounds like money, too, you know?"

723

:

So you know, I, I would find it

hard to believe that he's in a

724

:

camp that really dislikes it.

725

:

I also I don't see in public where

he's been all for pickleball either,

726

:

but I think he, he understands the

joy it brings to a lot of people.

727

:

And, uh, I, I think it's,

overall, it's a good thing.

728

:

People are exercising.

729

:

People are outside.

730

:

People have s- formed a cool sense of

community through their pickleball.

731

:

You know, people have new

friends because of pickleball.

732

:

How is that a bad thing?

733

:

You know, that's, that's cool.

734

:

It gets people

735

:

Mike: in

736

:

Dominic Manilla: public parks again.

737

:

Mike: I think if anyone's upset, it's

probably racquetball courts around the

738

:

country 'cause- Yeah … those are the

people that used to play racquetball,

739

:

now they're playing pickleball.

740

:

Dominic Manilla: Yeah, what

happened to racquetball, man?

741

:

That's a, that's a caveman sport, yeah.

742

:

Aaron: Too many dudes getting hit in

the, in, in the back with those balls.

743

:

Those things sting.

744

:

Dominic Manilla: Yeah.

745

:

Yeah, that hurts.

746

:

Mike: All right, so you guys have both had

a amazing tenure at Old Dominion, and it's

747

:

led to some successful student athletes

moving on to professional careers.

748

:

Uh, I'm gonna give this, this chance

for you guys to brag about some of them.

749

:

We know, we- we're all

following Yuliia's career.

750

:

It's been amazing to watch, but take-

take it off my hands and you guys

751

:

can brag about your players a little

bit and what they're doing now.

752

:

, Dominik Mueller: After Dom talks about

Yuliia, uh, le- let me start first, so

753

:

then we can finish with Yuliia, I guess.

754

:

Uh, it's hard to follow Yuliia.

755

:

No, I think we, we, we had

some great success story.

756

:

I mean, currently I have two, two former

players that are playing Davis Cup

757

:

this week, representing their country.

758

:

Um, Younes Lalami just won, uh, a

challenger in doubles last week, is

759

:

now up to 200 in the world in doubles.

760

:

I think currently we have th- Kom.

761

:

Uh, Kom started his pro career

this summer, and he made a

762

:

run to a challenger final.

763

:

So yeah, currently, I think we have

four guys that are on the tour.

764

:

Two of them more double specialists.

765

:

Two guys are really

giving it a go in singles.

766

:

And yeah, I think, yeah, sort of

in the challenger level, which

767

:

is sort of s- the second tier.

768

:

So I, I hope that, you know, they,

they can make it to the level

769

:

where Yuliia is and get on the,

yeah, ATP level and get on TV.

770

:

But yeah, I think, yeah, having

currently four guys on the sort of

771

:

the second level of pro tennis, I

think shows that, yeah, that there's

772

:

depth, uh, in, in our developmental

program on the pro tour as well.

773

:

And yeah, as I said, I think, uh, I

hope that one day we will also have a

774

:

success story like Yuliia that, uh, we,

we, we can share with Monarch Nation.

775

:

Dominic Manilla: I think Yuliia's

a product of all of it, men's

776

:

and women's tennis, you know,

the, the whole department.

777

:

I think she's a product of all of it.

778

:

But you know, I…

779

:

Y- you, you watch professional tennis

and it's not, it's not hard to draw

780

:

a path from what you're watching

on TV to one of our programs.

781

:

Even the other day Younes did he

was on a, like a blooper reel-

782

:

Dominik Mueller: Interesting

783

:

… Dominic Manilla: that

was absolutely hilarious.

784

:

He hit my favorite he hit my favorite

kind of ace, and they're very rare, but

785

:

it's when you hit an ace and it doesn't

bounce because he hit the dude on the fly.

786

:

He just beamed…

787

:

He was playing doubles and he hit

his serve and he beamed the net

788

:

guy, and that's my favorite ace

you could possibly hit, no bounce.

789

:

And, uh, you know, so it was on the

blooper reels f- going around for a while.

790

:

But even that's cool.

791

:

You know, like, you know, it's,

it's out there because it's pro

792

:

tennis, but hey, that's an ODU guy.

793

:

You know, we, we turn on the Open and

there's ODU women and there's ODU men,

794

:

and there's Davis Cup, there's Fed Cup.

795

:

You know, there's all these, all

these roads that go down to, uh,

796

:

that, that can lead to Old Dominion

tennis on the men's and the women's

797

:

side, and it's just awesome.

798

:

It's easy to talk about Yuliia right now.

799

:

You know, she beat Rybakina at the French.

800

:

Awesome.

801

:

So proud of her.

802

:

Aaron: Yeah.

803

:

Dominic Manilla: You know, all we can

hope for now is she can go further

804

:

in tournaments and that we can, just

like Dom said, we're just eager to,

805

:

uh, produce or see somebody who's

already out there get up to that level.

806

:

Whether it's men or women,

it's good for both programs.

807

:

It's good for both programs.

808

:

'Cause that's a big, that's a big

role of ours- That's awesome … in

809

:

the recruiting tour, right?

810

:

Is that, hey, you can draw a direct

path from our programs to the pro tour.

811

:

And, you know, both of us have a…

812

:

We don't need to smoke and mirrors that.

813

:

Both of us can draw, "Hey, here it is.

814

:

Here it is.

815

:

You come here.

816

:

We have a nice clear path for you, and

we've cleared out all the boulders.

817

:

We're giving you everything you need."

818

:

Aaron: All right, Mike.

819

:

I'm thinking that we do a few

rapid fire fun questions- Oh,

820

:

okay … unless you got a serious

one you wanna throw in ahead of time.

821

:

What do you think?

822

:

Mike: No, I think it's a good time to

do that 'cause we should have these

823

:

guys back in December before they

start hosting all their home matches.

824

:

Aaron: I agree.

825

:

Mike: All right.

826

:

They can talk to us about this

new squads they're bringing in.

827

:

Aaron: That sounds like a plan.

828

:

So these are gonna be

unserious sort of questions.

829

:

Answers from both of you guys,

but just think, fire off whatever

830

:

comes to your mind first.

831

:

My first one is gonna be, all right,

you guys go and you lace up the tennis

832

:

shoes and you stretch out the hamstrings

'cause we're getting older and we know

833

:

how those things don't react well.

834

:

You guys are going out to

play against each other.

835

:

Who's gonna win today?

836

:

Dominic Manilla: Mueller.

837

:

Mueller will win, for sure.

838

:

Aaron: Mm-hmm.

839

:

Dominic Manilla: Mueller,

Mueller's a stud on the court, man.

840

:

You know he's the most

winningest player ever at Baylor?

841

:

Aaron: I did see a photo.

842

:

I, I was looking up, I

saw a photo from Baylor.

843

:

I, I think…

844

:

Did you have, like, the headband going?

845

:

You know, back in the day.

846

:

I, my fr-

847

:

Dominik Mueller: I, I, as a freshman,

believe it or not, I had long hair,

848

:

and I was rocking the headband, yes.

849

:

Dominic Manilla: That's great.

850

:

I, I never saw him play, but

I just know he was a psycho.

851

:

You can tell.

852

:

Mike: All right.

853

:

So with all of the international players

on the team, I imagine there's gonna be

854

:

some kids that get homesick for food.

855

:

So have you found restaurants for a

lot of these countries in the area?

856

:

And if so, do you have a favorite?

857

:

Dominik Mueller: Well, maybe not about

the area, but when we're on the road, we

858

:

actually love going to Indian restaurants.

859

:

My team loves Indian food.

860

:

And also Thai.

861

:

So yeah, m- all my guys, they

love ethnic food, so we're

862

:

trying to find local restaurants.

863

:

In the area obviously we, we

go to Del Vecchio's a lot.

864

:

I mean, this, the national kids,

they love pasta before match.

865

:

We do a lot of Del Vecchio's

before home matches

866

:

Dominic Manilla: We, we do a lot

of Taste Unlimited before matches.

867

:

Now we're g- now we're utilizing the

dining hall more 'cause they can do,

868

:

like, catered meals and stuff for us.

869

:

But, um, no, we've always

had you know, "I like this.

870

:

No, I don't like that," you know?

871

:

So it's always been kind

of a challenge for us.

872

:

And for us, especially on the road, we

will accommodate them and try and get

873

:

them which each individual one needs.

874

:

So if I g- if I gotta spend 10

extra minutes to get this, this

875

:

woman a salad that this player

doesn't likes, but I think it might

876

:

help her win I'll get that salad.

877

:

I'll do whatever it takes,

you know what I mean?

878

:

So one of the, one of the privileges of

having a smaller squad, smaller team, but

879

:

locally, I think that they probably hit

the same places Mueller talked about, if,

880

:

if it's an off day and, you know, these,

these players work extremely hard, so

881

:

if they wanna calorie load or carb load,

I, I don't think it's gonna hurt them.

882

:

The Vecchios are just fine.

883

:

It's damn good, man, so I know my players

like wings a lot, and I think they venture

884

:

over to Dirty Buffalo quite a bit as well.

885

:

So I am proud that they, uh, they

seem to keep up with the local

886

:

restaurants and not, not just go

to Cheesecake Factory or something.

887

:

Aaron: Well, Mike and I are never gonna

argue over e- eating at Del Vecch's

888

:

or Dirty Buff, so, uh, we'll, we'll-

889

:

Dominic Manilla: Can't go wrong

890

:

… Aaron: we'll gladly

take those two any day.

891

:

Dominic Manilla: Okay.

892

:

Or Perfectly Frank's.

893

:

Come on, man.

894

:

That's, that's a great off-day food fare.

895

:

Yeah.

896

:

Aaron: That's perfect lunch

before hitting the Mitch to go

897

:

see the basketball teams too.

898

:

Right across the street or parking-

899

:

Dominic Manilla: Or, or,

900

:

or for taking a nap,

901

:

Aaron: grass, clay, or hard court?

902

:

Dominic Manilla: Go ahead, Mueller

903

:

Well, I'm gonna say he, he froze up.

904

:

I'm gonna say hardcore for me.

905

:

I'm American through and through.

906

:

It's what I grew up on.

907

:

I do like the, I do like the American

clay they call it, which is Har-Tru.

908

:

It's a, it's a dark green,

some people say gray clay.

909

:

I do enjoy that, but it's a

little bit tougher bounce and,

910

:

um, I, it's probably the surface

that's most similar to hard court.

911

:

But me, I'll, I'll take hard court.

912

:

Mueller, I don't know.

913

:

His game, he's a grinder, he's a psycho.

914

:

He probably likes that real slow,

nasty, humid day red clay where it's,

915

:

like, sticking to you and stuff.

916

:

He probably likes all that.

917

:

Aaron: That never comes out

of clothing either, does it?

918

:

Dominic Manilla: I mean, it, it

takes a, it takes some intentional

919

:

washing, that's for sure.

920

:

But yeah.

921

:

Yeah, Mueller is a dog.

922

:

He probably likes all that stuff, yeah.

923

:

Mike: I think his battery died.

924

:

He ga- he sent us a warning

in the private chat.

925

:

Uh, uh, I saw this little documentary.

926

:

It was probably, like, 20

minutes long, about this family,

927

:

I think it was in Nebraska.

928

:

Uh, the guy was obsessed with…

929

:

He was a farmer.

930

:

Maybe it's Iowa.

931

:

But he built this outdoor tennis

court, and, um, he actually

932

:

went and interned at Wimbledon.

933

:

It was really cool, and he came back.

934

:

I guess his son passed away, and he

started putting more care into it.

935

:

And now he's hosting

events at this grass court-

936

:

Dominic Manilla: Yeah

937

:

… Mike: that he's maintaining himself.

938

:

Dominic Manilla: Yeah.

939

:

I believe it's Iowa.

940

:

It's pretty neat.

941

:

It's, it kind of has the Field of Dreams

type- Absolutely … type of story to it.

942

:

It's very cool.

943

:

Very cool.

944

:

And it's beautiful.

945

:

' Mike: Cause, I mean, I can't

think who or where else are

946

:

you gonna find a grass court?

947

:

They're, they're not very

common in the United States.

948

:

Dominic Manilla: No.

949

:

We have them in Philadelphia.

950

:

There's some in DC.

951

:

But no, I mean, 'cause you have to,

first of all, you gotta have the space

952

:

for it, and then you have to have the

maintenance team to take care of it.

953

:

It's just like taking care

of a, a, a golf green.

954

:

You know, that's every day.

955

:

You know?

956

:

And you know, and, and

it, it takes a beating.

957

:

You know, you, you…

958

:

The cool thing about g- golf green is

that you can use it every day, you know,

959

:

they control it to keep an eye on it.

960

:

But you can use it every day.

961

:

With tennis, a grass tennis court, you

know, you play on it, you're digging it

962

:

up, and so it needs time to reboot itself.

963

:

So it's a bad investment, that's for sure.

964

:

So y- you're only gonna find it in

areas that can take those hits, right?

965

:

Mike: Absolutely.

966

:

All right, so Aaron, I'm gonna

let you take the next fun one.

967

:

My dogs are barking.

968

:

Aaron: Mine's, mine's gonna be simple, is

who's the best professional tennis player

969

:

that you've ever seen play in person?

970

:

And why?

971

:

Dominic Manilla: Rafa, for sure.

972

:

Ra- uh, Djokovic, Rafa.

973

:

I ne- I never saw Fed play, but

Rafa Djokovic, un- unbelievable.

974

:

Unbelievable.

975

:

On the women's side-

976

:

Sabalenka was unbelievable.

977

:

Just incredible.

978

:

Yeah, I'd say Sabalenka.

979

:

Yeah.

980

:

She's insane.

981

:

She's like a, she's like

a ninja turtle, man.

982

:

This is like…

983

:

I don- I don't mean that in

a respectful, feminine way,

984

:

Mike: all right.

985

:

So if we could do this and make tennis

have the g- best atmosphere ever

986

:

at Old Dominion, how do we do that?

987

:

And how can we help make it happen?

988

:

Dominic Manilla: So

989

:

You know, a, a, a good crowd

is probably the most important

990

:

thing we can list here, right?

991

:

And, you know, a good crowd that

brings energy and is stimulated.

992

:

So that's on us to make sure that

we have a product out there that's

993

:

stimulating for them to watch.

994

:

And you know, for, you know, and, and

winning is probably the most important

995

:

ingredient to making a, a stimulant

a, you know, a stimulating environment

996

:

for that, or at least the opportunity

to win, you know, where you can…

997

:

it comes down to the wire and something

like that But, you know, finding a way

998

:

that we can, we can create and show

off the energy that comes with college

999

:

tennis which is I think in a lot of

people's mind very different from what

:

00:49:44,395 --> 00:49:49,965

they see on TV or very different where

h- to how we look at sports culturally.

:

00:49:50,085 --> 00:49:53,895

You know, like i- in America the

coolest sports, it- it's, I…

:

00:49:54,295 --> 00:49:55,145

it's more attractive.

:

00:49:55,205 --> 00:49:58,045

The rah-rah of football,

the rah-rah of basketball.

:

00:49:58,055 --> 00:49:59,905

I mean, those Knicks

games were unbelievable.

:

00:50:00,255 --> 00:50:02,885

You know, the energy at the Garden,

those types of things, you know?

:

00:50:03,275 --> 00:50:06,775

The rah-rah of October

baseball or NHL hockey.

:

00:50:06,795 --> 00:50:10,195

You know, those are the biggest sports

in the country probably 'cause of the,

:

00:50:10,215 --> 00:50:15,245

the, the stimulating nature of, of

watching, and college tennis is probably

:

00:50:15,245 --> 00:50:20,135

the best version of our sport that,

uh, comes close to making those type

:

00:50:20,135 --> 00:50:21,765

of stimulating environments, you know?

:

00:50:22,025 --> 00:50:23,685

College tennis allows the rah-rah.

:

00:50:23,745 --> 00:50:27,605

They allow the frat boy type

mentality that you get that, you

:

00:50:27,605 --> 00:50:29,175

know, the, the college football games.

:

00:50:29,395 --> 00:50:32,435

It's very much a college sport in

a college environment and it can

:

00:50:32,435 --> 00:50:36,445

get loud and it's not so, it's not

a country club sport at the college

:

00:50:36,445 --> 00:50:39,325

level, and that's what I think is

very attractive of college tennis.

:

00:50:39,645 --> 00:50:43,065

You know, finding matches that are

stimulating for our fan base to come to.

:

00:50:43,085 --> 00:50:45,635

You know, so I'll, I'll brag on

our schedule a little bit here,

:

00:50:45,695 --> 00:50:49,525

um, this year at home, this is

just our home schedule that I'll,

:

00:50:49,525 --> 00:50:50,935

I'll list some stimulating teams.

:

00:50:50,935 --> 00:50:53,835

You know, we have Florida

State at home, Kansas at home,

:

00:50:54,095 --> 00:50:55,935

Maryland at home, Miami at home.

:

00:50:56,525 --> 00:50:59,935

You know, Charlotte, JMU, Marshall

at home, and some others I haven't

:

00:51:00,445 --> 00:51:02,905

signed off on all the way but, you

know, I can say with confidence

:

00:51:03,175 --> 00:51:04,135

those teams are gonna be at home.

:

00:51:04,205 --> 00:51:07,595

You know, we're doing a good job

k- controlling what we can control.

:

00:51:07,605 --> 00:51:10,805

Like hey, we have teams that

can compete and win, you know?

:

00:51:10,835 --> 00:51:13,065

At, at the worst case we're,

we're competing for the win.

:

00:51:13,155 --> 00:51:14,195

It's coming down to the wire.

:

00:51:15,165 --> 00:51:18,675

Um, and I think that we provide

that college tennis environment.

:

00:51:18,725 --> 00:51:22,475

So be- you know, dream come true

for me, the place is packed and

:

00:51:22,475 --> 00:51:25,055

we're doing ice cream and cake in

between the doubles and the singles.

:

00:51:25,405 --> 00:51:26,575

You know, that would be pretty neat.

:

00:51:26,895 --> 00:51:29,385

But, you know, helping us get the

word out that hey these are quality

:

00:51:29,385 --> 00:51:33,315

programs with quality people that

are supported by all the great people

:

00:51:33,315 --> 00:51:36,755

here at Old Dominion, and that it's

something they should at least check out.

:

00:51:37,255 --> 00:51:39,715

You know, I have, you know, there's

a lot of people who come to tennis

:

00:51:39,715 --> 00:51:43,015

matches, you know, and it, it's one

thing to come to one but it's, it's

:

00:51:43,015 --> 00:51:46,035

really key for us to kinda convince

you to come back for another one.

:

00:51:46,405 --> 00:51:49,275

You know, there's very few people

who just come to one and don't

:

00:51:49,325 --> 00:51:51,055

come to more in the future.

:

00:51:51,095 --> 00:51:55,775

You know, especially if they're die hold,

hard Old Dominion fans and they like th-

:

00:51:55,805 --> 00:52:00,285

the sensation of knowing that we won or

at least put their best foot forward.

:

00:52:00,575 --> 00:52:02,395

Tennis provides that right now.

:

00:52:02,911 --> 00:52:03,971

On both sides.

:

00:52:04,041 --> 00:52:04,321

You know?

:

00:52:04,321 --> 00:52:08,031

So if you're, if you're a diehard Old

Dominion fan and you enjoy those types of

:

00:52:08,031 --> 00:52:11,301

things, seeing Old Dominion be successful,

come to a tennis match and then I

:

00:52:11,361 --> 00:52:13,971

dare you to just come, to just do one.

:

00:52:13,971 --> 00:52:16,981

'Cause I think if you come to one,

you're gonna come to more in the future.

:

00:52:17,021 --> 00:52:19,021

Great events to bring your kids to.

:

00:52:19,111 --> 00:52:21,691

There's it's exciting, it's passionate.

:

00:52:22,081 --> 00:52:23,831

They're great role models for your kids.

:

00:52:24,161 --> 00:52:24,401

You know?

:

00:52:24,401 --> 00:52:27,401

'Cause that, that player

is down there by themself.

:

00:52:27,911 --> 00:52:28,911

They're problem solving.

:

00:52:29,051 --> 00:52:30,551

They're getting through

something difficult.

:

00:52:30,871 --> 00:52:33,191

They're showing you how incredibly

physically fit they are.

:

00:52:33,511 --> 00:52:36,251

They're showing you their

character their competitive nature.

:

00:52:36,571 --> 00:52:41,401

All the things that we try and instill

in our children as parents, you know, you

:

00:52:41,401 --> 00:52:46,601

can see that, you know, metaphorically or

really there in these players, and I think

:

00:52:46,601 --> 00:52:48,451

tennis is a beautiful sport in that sense.

:

00:52:48,461 --> 00:52:51,891

And if you can look at it from

that, from those angles, I think

:

00:52:51,901 --> 00:52:55,001

that the, the sport will just

continue to grow here on our campus.

:

00:52:56,151 --> 00:53:01,661

Mike: I would say for anyone with ADD

or that's in this whole mobile phone

:

00:53:01,661 --> 00:53:07,791

era where everyone's attention spans

are just nothing, tenn- college tennis

:

00:53:07,821 --> 00:53:11,971

is perfect for you 'cause- Yeah … you

don't got one match going on at once.

:

00:53:11,971 --> 00:53:12,871

You got a bunch.

:

00:53:13,671 --> 00:53:14,091

So-

:

00:53:14,131 --> 00:53:14,151

Aaron: Yeah.

:

00:53:14,301 --> 00:53:14,341

Six

:

00:53:14,921 --> 00:53:16,391

… Mike: there's always something going on.

:

00:53:17,711 --> 00:53:17,911

Dominic Manilla: Yeah.

:

00:53:19,391 --> 00:53:21,881

There's always somebody neat

floating around to talk to, you know?

:

00:53:21,891 --> 00:53:22,691

Whether you get a-

:

00:53:22,751 --> 00:53:23,081

Mike: Yeah

:

00:53:23,101 --> 00:53:25,791

… Dominic Manilla: you- you'll get some

face time with Wood or with Bruce or,

:

00:53:26,181 --> 00:53:27,741

you know, you, you guys are there a lot.

:

00:53:27,741 --> 00:53:30,361

Thank you so much, you can run

into the Monarchists there.

:

00:53:30,371 --> 00:53:31,141

You know, it's neat.

:

00:53:31,191 --> 00:53:32,281

It's a cool thing.

:

00:53:32,621 --> 00:53:35,801

You know, we've had the mayor at

matches, Hemphill's at matches a lot.

:

00:53:36,281 --> 00:53:39,011

If you wanna come and people watch,

it's a good spot to people watch.

:

00:53:39,721 --> 00:53:44,041

Mike: Maybe- Okay … me and Aaron can

start the Michele Mulich challenge this

:

00:53:44,041 --> 00:53:47,361

year, where we give everyone a, a, a card.

:

00:53:48,231 --> 00:53:50,911

If you go to tennis, you get a punch hole.

:

00:53:51,441 --> 00:53:53,611

If you go to lacrosse,

you get a punch hole.

:

00:53:54,291 --> 00:53:54,771

And if you get-

:

00:53:54,771 --> 00:53:55,011

Dominic Manilla: She's incredible

:

00:53:55,011 --> 00:53:56,971

Mike: all of them, maybe you

get a discount at the store.

:

00:53:56,971 --> 00:53:57,181

Aaron: All the sports.

:

00:53:58,431 --> 00:53:59,161

Dominic Manilla: She's incredible.

:

00:53:59,171 --> 00:54:00,991

The other day I was t- somebody

was telling me like, "Hey,

:

00:54:00,991 --> 00:54:01,731

where do you go to the…

:

00:54:01,781 --> 00:54:03,711

You go to the website to get

the schedule," or something.

:

00:54:03,711 --> 00:54:04,681

I said, "Just call…"

:

00:54:04,711 --> 00:54:05,581

I just call Michele.

:

00:54:06,091 --> 00:54:08,321

Say, "Hey, what, what's on

the schedule this week?"

:

00:54:08,321 --> 00:54:10,781

And she'll tell me, "Oh, we got

women's lacrosse on Thur-," s- excuse

:

00:54:10,781 --> 00:54:12,071

me, "Women's soccer on Thursday.

:

00:54:12,071 --> 00:54:13,241

We got, we're playing Virginia Tech.

:

00:54:13,481 --> 00:54:14,591

Got field hockey coming up.

:

00:54:14,601 --> 00:54:15,781

We got pre-season men's basketball."

:

00:54:16,021 --> 00:54:17,821

You know, and she'll,

she'll tell you everything.

:

00:54:17,851 --> 00:54:18,811

Aaron: She's an animal.

:

00:54:19,451 --> 00:54:20,181

Dominic Manilla: She's an animal.

:

00:54:20,191 --> 00:54:20,931

She's wonderful.

:

00:54:20,941 --> 00:54:21,541

She's great.

:

00:54:22,001 --> 00:54:22,571

Cool lady.

:

00:54:23,951 --> 00:54:28,501

Aaron: My last thing, because I think

that's kind of a great place to end is,

:

00:54:28,791 --> 00:54:33,561

you talk about atmosphere, you talk about

cheering, uh, you talk about making noise.

:

00:54:33,591 --> 00:54:38,161

I've had multiple conversations

with you about this, of how to

:

00:54:38,171 --> 00:54:41,901

be a good college tennis fan.

:

00:54:42,581 --> 00:54:46,491

Where's, like, when you can cheer,

when you can't cheer, what…

:

00:54:47,781 --> 00:54:51,741

So I've got good instruction from you,

and I think I, I'm a good rule follower.

:

00:54:52,141 --> 00:54:57,281

However, I have been talked to multiple

times by officials at the matches.

:

00:54:57,291 --> 00:55:02,851

So let people know kind of what

the acceptable ways to cheer.

:

00:55:02,851 --> 00:55:04,311

Is it in between points?

:

00:55:04,321 --> 00:55:07,051

Is it, you know- How do you do it?

:

00:55:08,151 --> 00:55:11,731

Dominic Manilla: I think I- yeah,

Aaron, you're, you're great, man.

:

00:55:11,741 --> 00:55:15,161

So Aaron, Aaron will get kind of like

the, the official talk to me and say,

:

00:55:15,161 --> 00:55:16,811

"Hey, we gotta get him to calm down."

:

00:55:17,381 --> 00:55:19,611

And I, I try to look at Aaron

like, "Hey," you know, like,

:

00:55:19,611 --> 00:55:20,651

"Hey, hey buddy," you know?

:

00:55:20,651 --> 00:55:23,031

And, but I'm looking at him

like, "Uh, uh, uh," you know?

:

00:55:24,221 --> 00:55:27,201

"Keep it coming, baby," but no,

I mean, like, I think as, as long

:

00:55:27,201 --> 00:55:30,891

as you can display, hey, positive

support for your team, and this,

:

00:55:30,931 --> 00:55:32,131

this is for any sport, right?

:

00:55:32,141 --> 00:55:32,471

You know?

:

00:55:32,701 --> 00:55:33,901

Who likes somebody who boos?

:

00:55:33,921 --> 00:55:35,131

I mean, that's kinda dumb, right?

:

00:55:35,511 --> 00:55:39,111

And, or who cheers negatively or talks,

you know, this is dumb, you know?

:

00:55:39,111 --> 00:55:44,001

But, you know, as long as you are

displaying a positive energy towards

:

00:55:44,001 --> 00:55:46,931

the team that you wanna win, and

you're doing it in a respectful

:

00:55:46,931 --> 00:55:51,251

way, and you're not doing it in a

distracting way, like you're not trying

:

00:55:51,521 --> 00:55:53,891

You should not be part of the competition.

:

00:55:54,441 --> 00:55:54,641

You know?

:

00:55:54,641 --> 00:55:58,411

You're there to enjoy the competition

and cheer for your team as loud as

:

00:55:58,411 --> 00:56:02,891

you can, but your, your enjoying

it should not infringe on their

:

00:56:02,891 --> 00:56:04,871

ability to put a good product out.

:

00:56:05,341 --> 00:56:09,641

So if you are h- if you are distracting

them where they can't play, I'm talking

:

00:56:09,641 --> 00:56:13,031

about the bad guys here, if you're

distracting the bad guys and they can't,

:

00:56:13,591 --> 00:56:17,781

they can't compete to the best of their

ability, which is all we, we, we want

:

00:56:17,781 --> 00:56:22,271

out of them even us, you know, I want our

opponents to, to be, you know, at their

:

00:56:22,271 --> 00:56:25,271

best when they play us then you're fine.

:

00:56:25,881 --> 00:56:27,221

You're fine, cheer loud.

:

00:56:27,281 --> 00:56:29,861

Cheer, be proud of your school,

be proud of Old Dominion.

:

00:56:30,171 --> 00:56:31,061

You know, I sure am.

:

00:56:31,741 --> 00:56:35,581

You know, I've, I've come to Dom's

matches and, um, you know, I'll have

:

00:56:35,581 --> 00:56:40,881

officials who know me, they'll look

at me like, what are you doing, man?"

:

00:56:40,891 --> 00:56:41,251

You know?

:

00:56:41,251 --> 00:56:43,721

And it's like, okay, yeah, I gotta

back off a little bit, and that,

:

00:56:43,761 --> 00:56:45,221

that's fine, but that's cool, man.

:

00:56:45,531 --> 00:56:49,061

You know, I've been at, I've been at SEC

teams where they spit on you, you know?

:

00:56:49,061 --> 00:56:51,901

And, you know, and that's, that's

every D1 athlete out there, you know?

:

00:56:51,901 --> 00:56:56,711

And at the end of the … Y- you hate

it, but at the end of the day, y-

:

00:56:56,811 --> 00:56:59,971

you kind of like it in a weird way.

:

00:56:59,981 --> 00:57:03,771

You kinda like being in the

arena and having somebody just

:

00:57:03,771 --> 00:57:07,401

so passionately that they would

spit on you, you know what I mean?

:

00:57:07,411 --> 00:57:11,701

Like what a … You know, you must

be doing something right, so yeah.

:

00:57:11,831 --> 00:57:17,653

I, that, I, you know, I, I- If you

get a warning at an Old Dominion

:

00:57:17,653 --> 00:57:20,253

tennis match you have no hate from me.

:

00:57:20,783 --> 00:57:21,713

Nothing but respect.

:

00:57:21,843 --> 00:57:22,143

So,

:

00:57:22,893 --> 00:57:25,363

Aaron: Well, I'm feeling, I'm

feeling secure in my chair.

:

00:57:25,403 --> 00:57:28,893

Uh, you know, it's not like I'm behind,

you know, the basketball on the back

:

00:57:28,893 --> 00:57:31,573

board, like, try- i'm, I feel good.

:

00:57:31,633 --> 00:57:32,399

But that, that's- I'm

doing what I'm supposed to

:

00:57:32,399 --> 00:57:35,403

Dominic Manilla: do … yeah, in

that, in that sport that's part of it.

:

00:57:35,603 --> 00:57:36,003

You know?

:

00:57:36,013 --> 00:57:36,723

That's part of it.

:

00:57:36,723 --> 00:57:42,223

That's trash talking, and bad trash

talking in their sport is part

:

00:57:42,223 --> 00:57:45,783

of their sport, so that's fine.

:

00:57:45,793 --> 00:57:47,303

Aaron: Yeah, you have

a very different sport.

:

00:57:47,303 --> 00:57:52,233

Like, if you hit the ball and it

hits the net and goes over, you're,

:

00:57:52,233 --> 00:57:53,793

like, apologizing to the other team.

:

00:57:53,863 --> 00:57:54,763

Sorry for that point."

:

00:57:55,003 --> 00:57:55,183

You know?

:

00:57:55,193 --> 00:57:55,413

Dominic Manilla: Yeah, yeah.

:

00:57:55,413 --> 00:57:55,773

We…

:

00:57:56,953 --> 00:57:57,293

Yeah.

:

00:57:57,293 --> 00:57:57,353

It's so nice.

:

00:57:57,353 --> 00:57:57,463

I

:

00:57:57,463 --> 00:57:58,153

Aaron: mean, how cool is

:

00:57:58,173 --> 00:57:58,873

Mike: pro when

:

00:57:58,873 --> 00:57:58,963

we

:

00:57:58,963 --> 00:57:59,253

Dominic Manilla: do that?

:

00:57:59,353 --> 00:57:59,513

Mike: Whoa.

:

00:57:59,543 --> 00:58:04,083

Don't, Aaron, don't wanna

make it seem too tame.

:

00:58:04,173 --> 00:58:06,183

Those tennis matches- … get intense.

:

00:58:07,493 --> 00:58:08,853

Aaron: Oh, I- Um- … I agree.

:

00:58:08,883 --> 00:58:12,643

I'm just talking the general,

like, etiquette on ugh, in

:

00:58:12,643 --> 00:58:14,153

real out here- Yeah, but

:

00:58:14,663 --> 00:58:14,813

Dominic Manilla: you pretend, yes

:

00:58:14,813 --> 00:58:14,843

you're like, "Yes."

:

00:58:14,843 --> 00:58:15,273

You pretend, yeah.

:

00:58:15,273 --> 00:58:16,263

Yeah, we pretend.

:

00:58:16,333 --> 00:58:16,653

Pretend,

:

00:58:16,843 --> 00:58:17,173

Aaron: yes.

:

00:58:17,193 --> 00:58:17,283

Dominic Manilla: We're all polite.

:

00:58:17,553 --> 00:58:18,133

Yeah, exactly, yeah.

:

00:58:18,133 --> 00:58:18,613

Aaron: Yeah.

:

00:58:18,983 --> 00:58:22,883

Mike: So, I, I guess I wanna ask

you this last question before we go.

:

00:58:23,363 --> 00:58:27,303

There was a match we were at last year

where there was a lot of chirping from

:

00:58:27,303 --> 00:58:30,023

the opposing team towards the officials.

:

00:58:31,423 --> 00:58:31,643

Dominic Manilla: Yeah.

:

00:58:31,643 --> 00:58:34,023

Mike: And it seemed to actually

help them at some points.

:

00:58:34,263 --> 00:58:37,523

Like, the officials almost got

bullied into giving them points.

:

00:58:38,073 --> 00:58:44,273

Um, has there been any changes

or discussions about how the,

:

00:58:44,273 --> 00:58:48,443

the players should be interacting

with the officials, or…?

:

00:58:49,173 --> 00:58:49,553

Dominic Manilla: Yeah.

:

00:58:49,603 --> 00:58:50,583

You know, it's always…

:

00:58:52,173 --> 00:58:55,403

It's not that much different than,

you know, the, the YMCA creed.

:

00:58:55,413 --> 00:58:56,683

Respect everybody da, da, da.

:

00:58:56,683 --> 00:58:57,023

You know?

:

00:58:57,023 --> 00:59:01,043

But, you know, it's, it's a problem in

all sport, consistency from venue to venue

:

00:59:01,053 --> 00:59:05,263

and how it's officiated, how the game

is managed, is always a, always a thing.

:

00:59:05,273 --> 00:59:05,513

You know?

:

00:59:05,513 --> 00:59:09,183

Like, oh Don got teed up here in

Norfolk, but, you know, oh, well,

:

00:59:09,183 --> 00:59:12,883

I, I can say that in Kansas all

the time and never a problem.

:

00:59:12,983 --> 00:59:13,303

You know?

:

00:59:13,303 --> 00:59:17,183

Or, you know, so it's, it's, I think

that's all, all sports, you know?

:

00:59:17,193 --> 00:59:21,523

Some, some balls go over the plates

differently in different, in different

:

00:59:21,523 --> 00:59:24,713

venues with different officials,

and you can say some things to some

:

00:59:24,713 --> 00:59:26,133

officials, and some officials you can't.

:

00:59:26,433 --> 00:59:28,823

And, um, it's how it goes.

:

00:59:28,833 --> 00:59:29,133

Should…

:

00:59:29,253 --> 00:59:33,773

They sh- all should be calling

the game the same or very similar.

:

00:59:34,133 --> 00:59:35,173

Doesn't always happen.

:

00:59:35,863 --> 00:59:42,373

I find it hard to believe that our

officials here at, at ODU were bullied.

:

00:59:42,993 --> 00:59:47,573

Our s- our crews are usually

very, pretty loaded with a lot of

:

00:59:47,573 --> 00:59:49,473

experience, a lot of experience.

:

00:59:49,903 --> 00:59:52,093

Eh, maybe there's one

or two that might have.

:

00:59:52,683 --> 00:59:54,803

I'll catch up with you afterwards

to figure out which one it

:

00:59:54,803 --> 00:59:56,823

was 'cause I have my guesses.

:

00:59:56,833 --> 00:59:58,443

But no that, that shouldn't happen.

:

00:59:58,593 --> 00:59:58,963

That shouldn't happen

:

01:00:00,838 --> 01:00:01,208

Aaron: All right.

:

01:00:01,208 --> 01:00:01,948

Well, I like that.

:

01:00:01,998 --> 01:00:06,618

, We gotta catch up, we gotta do the

wings, we gotta talk more tennis.

:

01:00:06,755 --> 01:00:07,705

, Here's the parting shot.

:

01:00:07,705 --> 01:00:13,245

We're gonna give you, um, kind of your

message to Monarch Nation, and when will

:

01:00:13,255 --> 01:00:18,325

be the first time that people will be able

to get a glimpse at ODU Women's Tennis?

:

01:00:19,935 --> 01:00:22,225

Dominic Manilla: ODU Women's Tennis

this year will be January 30th.

:

01:00:22,275 --> 01:00:23,405

We host Florida State.

:

01:00:24,065 --> 01:00:25,445

Think it's a good stimulating environment.

:

01:00:25,445 --> 01:00:26,845

We'll promote the crap out of that one.

:

01:00:26,845 --> 01:00:28,435

We're trying to get a

bunch of people out there.

:

01:00:28,935 --> 01:00:32,415

You know, it's, it's a well-coached

program, and we've gone back and

:

01:00:32,415 --> 01:00:33,635

forth with them over the years.

:

01:00:33,645 --> 01:00:38,625

I think last time we played them at home,

we got them in a tough one, so I think

:

01:00:38,625 --> 01:00:40,015

that'll be a good one for them to see.

:

01:00:40,545 --> 01:00:43,615

Then followed up by Kansas and

Maryland in early February, so I

:

01:00:43,615 --> 01:00:47,055

think it'll be a good, a, a good

slate of matches for them to see.

:

01:00:47,435 --> 01:00:49,245

Sorry, I'm not familiar

with the men's schedule.

:

01:00:49,295 --> 01:00:52,205

But yeah, that's the first time you'll

be able to see our, our new squad.

:

01:00:52,375 --> 01:00:52,645

Yeah.

:

01:00:54,045 --> 01:00:54,715

Aaron: Good deal.

:

01:00:54,815 --> 01:00:59,465

Tom and Dom, wherever you are,

appreciate you guys coming on.

:

01:01:00,055 --> 01:01:01,545

We'll be seeing you real soon.

:

01:01:01,955 --> 01:01:04,055

And go Monarchs.

:

01:01:04,305 --> 01:01:04,935

Dominic Manilla: Go Monarchs.

:

01:01:04,935 --> 01:01:05,745

Thank you, guys.

:

01:01:06,385 --> 01:01:06,985

Mike: Go Monarchs.

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