ORLANDO, FLA. -- The second-seeded VCU Rams won their eighth consecutive Atlantic 10 Men’s Tennis Championship on Saturday at the USTA National Campus. VCU defeated the top-seeded Dayton Flyers 4-2 in their fourth straight championship meeting between the two programs.  

In doubles, Alfred Almasi and Leon Zaorski of VCU defeated Sai Dore and Sturle Skigelstrand 6-2. The Rams’ battery of German Samofalov and Kostiantyn Mantach clinched a 6-3 victory over Eric Suk and Mikkel Zinder on court one for the doubles point. In singles, Almasi took down Skigelstrand 6-1, 6-0 on court four. The Flyers responded with a win on court two by Zinder, who beat Nicolo Consonni 6-4, 6-3. Dore earned another Flyers point with his 6-4, 6-4 win against Erwann Bouchet on court three. Mantach then beat Kaia Mendibe 6-2, 6-3 on court five. Gevorg Mnatsakanyan clinched the winning point with his defeat of Brady Hussey, 6-2, 6-4 on court six.  

VCU earns the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament. The NCAA men’s tennis selection show is Monday, April 28 at 5:30 p.m. and will be live streamed on NCAA.com. The first round begins Friday, May 2 at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, TX.  

Match 9: No. 2 VCU def. No. 1 Dayton 4-2 

SINGLES 

1. German Samofalov (VCU) vs. Kyle McNally (UD) DNF 

2. Mikkel Zinder (UD) def. Nicolo Consonni (VCU) 6-4, 6-3 

3. Sai Dore (UD) def. Erwann Bouchet (VCU) 6-4, 6-4 

4. Alfred Almasi (VCU) def. Sturle Skigelstrand (UD) 6-1, 6-0 

5. Kostiantym Mantach (VCU) def. Kaia Mendibe (UD) 6-2, 6-3 

6. Gevorg Mnatsakanyan (VCU) def. Brady Hussey (UD) 6-2, 6-4 

Order of Finish: 4, 2, 3, 5, 6 

DOUBLES 

1. German Samofalov / Kostiantyn Mantach (VCU) def. Eric Suk / Mikkel Zinder (UD) 6-3 

2. Nicolo Consonni / Gevorg Mnatsanyan (VCU) vs. Kyle McNally / Brady Hussey (UD) DNF 

3. Alfred Almasi / Leon Zaorski (VCU) def. Sai Dore / Sturle Skigelstrand (UD) 6-2 

Order of Finish: 3, 1