Men’s tennis victorious in USF tournament finale

Sophia Belletti
Contributing Writer

Junior Michal Voscek won his doubles competition 6-4 with partner A. Batlle Rodriguez. Photo by Ali Jones

The men’s tennis team traveled down to the sunshine state of Florida on Friday, March 13 to participants in the University of South Florida (USF) tournament. Played in Tampa, the Rams entered the tournament 12-5. Head coach Paul Kostin’s team found victory in their last day of the tournament, but struggled prior to dropping three of the last four and two matchups to open the tournament.

After lopsided losses to Penn State University and Drake University, the men’s tennis team defeated Furman University on the third and final day of the tournament 4-1. Sophomore Daryl Monfils, junior Joseph Cohen and freshman Antonio Batlle Rodriguez all won their singles competitions. VCU’s sophomore duo of Catalin Fifea and Wilder Pimentel won their doubles match 6-2 and doubles partners Rodriguez and junior Michael Voscek won their competition 6-4.

On March 14, VCU played a tough match against No. 25 Drake but was unable to come away with any victories, losing 4-0 on the second day of the tournament. The Voscek/Rodriguez pair came close to scoring a victory for the Rams but fell short to Drake seniors Matt Frost and Ravi Patel in a 6-4 contest. 

VCU’s first opponent was Penn State on Friday, March 13. The No. 73 Rams fell to the No.48 Nittany Lions 4-1. The Fifea/Wilder due were able to pull away the only win for the Rams in doubles, defeating PSU’s sophomore Alex Fennell and senior Michael Reilly in a close 6-4 match.

VCU’s record extended to 13-7 and prepared for their match at UNC Wilmington on Saturday, but results were not final in time for publication.

The next home matchup for the men’s tennis team will be a 4-1 Tournament hosting Morgan State University and Longwood University on Friday, March 27 at the Thalhimer Tennis Center.

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