TAMPA (March 31, 2024) – The University of South Florida (9-13) suffered another narrow setback on Sunday in a 4-3 loss to No. 41 VCU (9-9). The grueling match, on a hot and sunny afternoon, took nearly four hours to complete, and the outcome came down to the final court.

The No. 55 ranked pairing of Alvin Tudorica/Erik Grevelius jumped out to the early lead for USF in doubles, their third straight victory and 12th overall this season with a win over the No. 45-ranked doubles team in the country. In their first match as a pair, Elijah Cham/Tom Pavlekovich-Smith clinched doubles for the Green & Gold, pulling the Bulls ahead 1-0 in a sweep in doubles.

Singles action provided one of the most competitive sets of matches for the Bulls all season. Four of the six courts finished within a game difference in the first set. Grevelius and Tom Pisane would push their first sets to tiebreakers, with Pisane winning his tiebreaker, 7-4.

Courts 1 & 6 were the only courts that finished in two sets including a match win for Agustin Cuellar.

The Bulls would hold a 3-1 overall lead on the Rams after Cuellar's win. However, VCU would sweep the final three courts including a winner-take-all Court 2 that saw Grevelius narrowly edged in his comeback attempt, 6-7 (1-7), 7-5, 4-6.

Cham improved to 11-6 in singles play this season and is one of four Bulls with double digit wins this season, joining Tudorica, Pisane and Grevelius.

Up Next
The Bulls will play of pair of road matches next weekend as the regular season schedule nears its end. USF will start the trip at Wichita State on Friday, April 5.

About USF Men's Tennis
Be sure to follow USF men's tennis on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
Head coach Ashley Fisher is in his eighth year at the helm of the program for the 2023-24 season. Fischer has guided the Bulls to four NCAA Tournaments, including three trips to the second round. He was named the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2017 & 2019 after leading USF to the conference title in each of those seasons.
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