University of Richmond Athletics
Men's Tennis Faces VCU In NCAA First Round
05/11/2006 | Men's Tennis
May 11, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond men's tennis squad will be competing against one of the nation's top teams on Saturday as it faces No. 12 Virginia Commonwealth in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The fourth-seeded Spiders will play the top-seeded Rams at 9:00 a.m. at the Thalhimer Tennis Center in Richmond, Va. After capturing their third-straight A-10 title and fourth championship in the last five years, the Spiders earned the leagues' automatic berth to the NCAA Championships for the third consecutive year. The Spiders are currently 16-13 on the season and have won their last five matches.
"It's always exciting to qualify for post-season play in the NCAAs," stated Richmond head coach Steve Gerstenfeld. "It's been a long break between competition; hopefully, my players have retained their sharpness from their performance in the A-10 Championships (April 9)."
The Spiders are making the program's fourth NCAA appearance after previously advancing to the NCAA Championships in 2002, 2004, and 2005. Richmond has never won a team match while competing in the tournament. Last year, the Spiders fell to No. 2 Virginia in first round action.
VCU (25-4) is currently ranked 12th in the nation and ran through the season with only four losses. The Rams have won their last 15 matches and are making their fourteenth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament after capturing their 10th CAA Title in 11 years.
The Rams and the Spiders played earlier this season, with the Rams sweeping the Spiders, 5-0, at the VCU Invitational on January 20.
"It's never easy to have to play a team ranked in the Top 16 nationally, but we've got nothing to lose and it will be a very exciting and rewarding experience," Gerstenfeld concluded.
