MASON, Ohio - The second-seeded VCU Rams (15-12) advanced to the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis Championship with a 4-0 sweep of Duquesne (11-8). VCU will face George Mason on Saturday at 1:30 pm.
VCU's Catalin Fifea and Wilder Pimentel defeated Harry Walshe and Tim Kane to kick off doubles play. Duquesne's Adam Blasinsky and Medhi Mekaoui then won the tiebreaker to take court three, 8-7(8). VCU's top doubles pair of Joseph Cohen and Daryl Monfils followed with a second tiebreaker victory, 8-7(10) to clinch the early 1-0 advantage.
Wilder Pimentel finished first for the Rams, taking a 6-0, 6-0 victory on court four over Medhi Mekaoui. At top singles, senior Michal Voscek gave the Rams a 3-0 match lead with a 6-1, 6-2 straight set win against Rich Robbie. Louis Ishizaka then clinched the victory, taking court six, 6-2, 7-5.
The Rams will play in their third consecutive A-10 semifinals on Saturday at 1:30 pm.
MATCH #8
#2 VCU DEF. #7 DUQUESNE, 4-0
SINGLES
1. Michal Voscek (VCU) def. Rich Robbie (DUQ) 6-1, 6-2
2. Daryl Monfils (VCU) vs. Corey Robinson (DUQ) 6-4, 3-2, DNF
3. Catalin Fifea (VCU) vs. Alex Aleman (DUQ) 6-7(6), 2-0, DNF
4. Wilder Pimentel (VCU) def. Medhi Mekaoui (DUQ) 6-0, 6-0
5. Toni Batlle (VCU) vs. Tim Kane (DUQ) 6-4, 4-1, DNF
6. Louis Ishizaka (VCU) def. Harry Walshe (DUQ) 6-2, 7-5
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 6
DOUBLES
1. Joseph Cohen/Daryl Monfils (VCU) def. Alex Aleman/Rich Robbie (DUQ) 8-7(10)
2. Catalin Fifea/Wilder Pimentel (VCU) def. Harry Walshe/Tim Kane (DUQ) 8-3
3. Adam Blasinsky/Medhi Mekaoui (DUQ) def. Michal Voscek/Toni Batlle (VCU) 8-7(8)
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
MASON, Ohio - The sixth-seeded George Mason Patriots (13-11) earned the final spot in the Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis semifinals with a 4-3 victory against No. 3 Davidson Wildcats (12-10). The Patriots will face No. 2 VCU in Saturday's 1:30 pm semifinal.
Davidson won the first doubles match on court one behind JB Gough and Jordan Hart, 8-0. The Patriots would then go on to win at No. 3 and No. 2 doubles, as the duo of Aaron Capitel/Nick Barker won their tiebreaker, 8-7(6), on court three, followed by an 8-7(5) tiebreaker in favor of Tanner Baine and Daniel Gutierrez. on court two.
Mason extended their lead to 2-0 as Jimmy Lange defeated Shamael Chaudry, 6-4, 6-4, at top singles. The Wildcats then evened the match as No. 4 David Hager won in straight sets (6-4, 6-2) and No. 2 Artem Khrapko completed a three set victory (6-4, 3-6, 6-1).
The Patriots went ahead again in the match, 3-2, as Joe Hill defeated JB Gough in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 on court three. Jordan Hart knotted the match back at 3-3 on court six, winning 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4. Conor Moran clinched the 4-3 match for George Mason, winning the first and third sets against Ricky Saad.
The Rams defeated George Mason, 4-1, in their only meeting this season.
MATCH #7
#6 GEORGE MASON DEF. #3 DAVIDSON, 4-3
SINGLES
1. Jimmy Lange (MASON) def. Shamael Chaudry (DAV) 6-4, 6-4
2. Artem Khrapko (DAV) def. Aaron Capitel (MASON) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
3. Joe Hill (MASON) def. JB Gough (DAV) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
4. David Hager (DAV) def. Tanner Baine (MASON) 6-4, 6-2
5. Conor Moran (MASON) def. Ricky Saad (DAV) 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4
6. Jordan Hart (DAV) def. Daniel Gutierrez (MASON) 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 2, 3, 6, 5
DOUBLES
1. JB Gough/Jordan Hart (DAV) def. Jimmy Lange/Joe Hill (MASON) 8-0
2. Tanner Baine/Daniel Gutierrez (MASON) def. Evan Watkins/Jack Riazzi (DAV) 8-7(5)
3. Aaron Capitel/Nick Barker (MASON) def. Shamael Chaudry/Ricky Saad (DAV) 8-7(6)
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2