The University of South Florida men's tennis team earned its fifth win over a ranked opponent on Friday with a 4-2 victory over No. 40 VCU at the USF Varsity Courts. The Bulls are now 12-6 on the season with just two matches remaining before the BIG EAST tournament.

“I don't think we played our best tennis, but we fought hard and competed well,” USF head coach Don Barr said. “To win when you're not playing well is about all you can ask. We'll move on and get ready for Louisville on Sunday.”
   
Juan Carlos Acuna Gerard clinched the match for the Bulls with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win over Camill Salomon in the No. 5 position.

The Rams had rallied from a 3-0 deficit to make the score 3-2 with wins from Tom Johannsen over Lucas Jovita, 2-6, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 1 and Filip Svennson over Sebastian Hagn, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 6.

USF's wins came early in singles play. Wael Kilani made quick work of Max Wennakoski, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2, and Federico Sabogal downed Antoine Baroz, 6-2, 6-2 in the fourth singles slot.

Yannick Yoshizawa and Jaime Vazquez-Catoira were called off the courts when the match was decided. Catoira was leading the third set 5-1 at the time.

The Bulls picked up the doubles point thanks to a win at No. 3 from Jovita and Hagn, 8-6, over Wennakoski and Svennson. Hagn is now 9-0 this season in doubles play and 5-0 when playing with Jovita.

Prior to the clinching verdict, Deridder and Yoshizawa made easy work of Vazquez-Catoira/Salomon, 8-0, at No. 1. In the middle match, Kilani and Sabogal fell to Johannsen and Baroz, 9-7.

USF returns to action vs. Louisville at 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 3.

No. 45 USF 4, No. 40 VCU 2
April 1, 2011
USF Varsity Courts

Singles
1. Tim Johannsen (VCU) def. Lucas Jovita (USF), 2-6, 6-0, 6-2       
2. Wael Kilani (USF) def. Max Wennakoski (VCU), 6-2, 6-1
3. Yannick Yoshizawa (USF) and Jaime Vazquez Catoira (VCU), 6-3, 6-7 (7-2), 5-1 Unf.
4. Federico Sabogal (USF) def. Antoine Baroz (VCU), 6-2, 6-2
5. Juan Carlos Acuna Gerard (USF) def. Camill Salomon (VCU), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
6. Filip Svensson (VCU) def. Sebastian Hagn (USF), 6-2, 6-1       
Order of Finish –  2, 4, 6, 1, 5

Doubles
1. Romain Deridder/Yoshizawa (USF) def. Vazquez-Catoira/Salomon (VCU), 8-0
2. Johannsen/Baroz (VCU) def. Kilani/Sabogal (USF), 9-7
3. Jovita/Hagn (USF) def. Wennakoski/Svennson (VCU), 8-6
Order of Finish – 1, 2, 3,