Sports Briefs

Men’s tennis falls to top-ranked Cavs

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The 33rd-ranked VCU men’s tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision Wednesday to Virginia, the No. 1-ranked team nationally.

The Cavaliers opened the match by sweeping the doubles matches to take a 1-0 advantage. VCU was able to tie the score when Damien Lacombe (Perigueux, France) defeated Darrin Cohen 6-0, 6-1, but could not take the lead.

Other Rams winners include Francesc Lleal (Barcelona, Spain) at No.3 and fifth-seeded Georges-Alexandre Israel (Marseille, France).

Hunt for a new athletics director

The Richmond Times-Dispatch’s John Packett reported Thursday that university President Eugene P. Trani may be preparing to hire Kim Record as director of athletics to replace Richard L. Sander, who is becoming the director of the Sports Center.

Record is an associate AD at Florida State and is a graduate from the University of Virginia.

Brown, Stewart claim first place at Patriot games

FAIRFAX – Senior Tanika Brown (Powhatan High School) won the high jump, and junior Lauren Stewart (Richmond/Governor’s School) finished on top in the pole vault.

Brown’s jump of 5-7 was four inches higher than the second-place finisher, and Stewart cleared 10-8.

Other Rams standouts include:

 Nikki Arrington (Midlothian High School) finished in third in the weight throw.

 Pia Ruth (Rahway, N.J.) claimed third in the hurdles.

 Octavia James (Newport News/Heritage High School) placed fourth in the hurdles and sixth in the 200m dash.

 Sheemeca Berkley (Madison Heights/Amherst High School) was fourth place in the long jump.

 Vernice Johnson (Mineral/Louisa High School) placed fourth in the triple jump and sixth in the long jump.

 Danielle Williams (Virginia Beach/Salem High School) took home fifth place in the mile run.

 Ashley Rogers (Chesapeake/Deep Creek High School) claimed fifth place in the shot put.

 Kristina Rios (Arlington/Wakefield High School) was fifth in the 800.

 Lindsay Holman (Virginia Beach/Salem High School) placed sixth in the 800.