RAMS FALL TO #43 SOUTH CAROLINA, DEFEAT UTAH AT ITA KICKOFF WEEKEND

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After fighting its way through snow to get to the campus of the University of Tennessee, the Virginia Commonwealth University men's tennis team had the daunting tasks of ITA Kickoff Weekend.

Sophomore Filip Svensson (Angelholm, Sweden) and junior Tim Johannsen (Hohenlockstedt, Germany) both went 2-0 in singles competition to lead the Rams to a 1-1 weekend, with a 6-1 victory over Utah and a tough 4-2 loss to #43 South Carolina.

Both players improve to 4-0 on the spring season with all four of Svensson's victories coming in straight sets.

Johannsen was also undefeated on the doubles side, pairing with senior Thibaut Charron (Sens, France) for two victories at #1 doubles.  

The Rams return to Thalhimer Tennis Center next weekend to host the Eagles of Winthrop University in a 2 p.m. showdown.  

#43 South Carolina 4, #48 VCU 2

Singles Competition
1. Diego Cubas (USC) def. Thibaut Charron (VCU) 6-1, 6-4
2. Pedro Campos (USC) def. Krisztin Krocsko (VCU) 6-2, 7-5
3. Tim Johannsen (VCU) def. Ivan Machado (USC) 7-6, 6-1
4. Filip Svensson (VCU) def. Johannes Pulsfort (USC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Alexander Kostanov (USC) def. Max Wennakoski (VCU) 6-7, 6-3, 6-3
6. Camill Salomon (VCU) vs. Ivan Cressoni (USC) 7-6, 6-2, 3-3 (did not finish)

Doubles Competition
1. Thibaut Charron/Tim Johannsen (VCU) def. Diego Cubas/Ivan Machado (USC) 8-5
2. Ivan Cressoni/Pedro Campos (USC) def. Krisztin Krocsko/Camill Salomon (VCU) 8-4
3. Johannes Pulsfort/Alexander Kostanov (USC) def. Filip Svensson/Oscar Perman (VCU) 8-2

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,2,1,3,5)

#48 VCU 6, Utah 1

Singles Competition
1. Thibaut Charron (VCU) def. Phillip Eilers (UTAH) 6-4, 6-2
2. Krisztin Krocsko (VCU) def. Benito Suriano (UTAH) 6-4, 6-2
3. Tim Johannsen (VCU) def. Alex Golding (UTAH) 6-4, 6-4
4. Filip Svensson (VCU) def. Jason Smits (UTAH) 6-4, 6-4
5. Max Wennakoski (VCU) def. Timmy Allin (UTAH) 6-4, 6-2
6. Stephen Jacobs (UTAH) def. Camill Salomon (VCU) 5-5, retired


Doubles Competition
1. Thibaut Charron/Tim Johannsen (VCU) def. Phillip Eilers/Alex Golding (UTAH) 8-5
2. Krisztin Krocsko/Camill Salomon (VCU) vs. Jason Smits/Timmy Allin (UTAH) 7-4, unfinished
3. C.J. Williams/Filip Svensson (VCU) def. Stephen Jacobs/Benito Suriano (UTAH) 8-4

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,1,4,3,6,5)