RAMS PICK UP TWO WINS ON FIRST DAY OF 4-1 INVITATIONAL

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University men's tennis team got its 2010 spring campaign off to a strong start with two victories on the first day of the VCU 4-1 Invitational at the Thalhimer Tennis Center.

In the first match of the day, the Rams dropped conference foe James Madison, 5-0, then picked up a 4-1 decision of Georgetown in the afternoon.

Senior Thibaut Charron (Sens, France) and junior Tim Johannsen (Hohenlockstedt, Germany) led the way for the Black & Gold, picking up two wins apiece.

Charron had a heavyweight bout with Mike Smith of JMU, but came out on top (4-6, 6-3, 11-9), then eased to a straight set win over Anthony Tan of Georgetown (6-4, 6-2).

Johannsen, an All-American last season at Armstrong Atlantic State University, breezed through his two matches on the day with straight set wins over Greg Vladimirsky of JMU (6-2, 6-1) and David Tellem of Georgetown (6-3, 6-0)

Underclassmen Krisztin Krocsko (Budapest, Hungary), Max Wennakoski (Helsinki, Finland), Filip Svensson (Angelholm, Sweden) and Camill Solomon (Limoges, France) all picked up wins on the day.

MATCH #1 - VCU d. James Madison, 5-0
1. Thibaut Charoon d. Mike Smith, 4-6, 6-3, 11-9
2. Tim Johannsen d. Greg Vladimirsky, 6-2, 6-1
3. Krisztin Krocsko d. Tommi Nissinen, 6-2, 6-0
4. Max Wennakoski d. Matt King, 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
Oscar Permen/Filip Svensson d. Stephen Hardy/Yaroslav Voznenko, 5-7, 6-2, 10-6

MATCH #2 - VCU d. Georgetown, 4-1
1. Thibaut Charron (VCU) d. Anthony Tan (GU), 6-4, 6-2
2. Tim Johannsen (VCU) d. David Tillem (GU), 6-3, 6-0
3. Filip Svensson (VCU) d. Charlie Caris (GU), 6-4, 6-0
4. Camill Solomon (VCU) d. Will Lowell, 6-3, 6-1

Doubles
Bryan Miller/Andrew Bruhn (GU) d. Krisztian Krocsko/C.J. Williams (VCU), 7-6, 2-6, 10-7