Ben Martindale, Staff Writer
VCU men’s tennis took the court against the University of Richmond on Friday.
The matchup followed a narrow defeat to East Tennessee State University. The Rams started their 2026 campaign with an even two wins and two losses.
VCU second-years Nicolo Consonni and Gervog Mnatsakanyan won their doubles match 6-3 to get VCU rolling.
Shortly after, VCU second-years Erwann Bouchet and Mats Bredschneijder won 6-3 to give the Rams their first point of the match and a 1-0 lead.
The third doubles match was not finished as the Rams had already won the point, but VCU second-years Kostiantyn Mantach and Leon Zaorski put together a good performance. They were leading their match 5-4 by the time it ended.
VCU carried its momentum into singles play as Mnatsakanyan beat Richmond second-year Otto Sewell in straight sets, extending the VCU lead to 2-0.
Richmond second-year Charlie Burdell scored Richmond’s first point of the evening after beating Zaorski 6-4, 6-2.
VCU bounced back, riding Bouchet’s straight set victory against Richmond third-year Paxton Pritchard to a 3-1 lead.
On court one Consonni and Richmond fourth-year Davis Wiley slugged it out, going back and forth in a thrilling match that would see Consonni bounce back after dropping the first set 2-6 to win a razor close second set 7-6.
The third set played out much like the rest of the match, with Consonni falling behind early 3-0 before pulling off an incredible comeback to win the match 2-6, 7-6, 7-4.
“I always believe in myself,” Consonni said. “Ever since I was a kid, my dad was my coach and he would always say that if you believe in yourself the match is not over. In the third set it was a really close match. I knew it was about details; I think I closed out really well, always believing in myself.”
Consonni’s victory effectively secured VCU the win, as the Rams took a 4-1 lead with just two matches remaining.
Despite having the game wrapped up, VCU stayed dialed in, winning one of its final two matches.
“It was a close match. Doubles was close, singles was close, it could have gone either way,” Head Coach Dimi Kutrovsky said. “I’m just happy we got on top and we played tough in the big moments, and I think that was the difference today.”
VCU walked away with a final score of 5-2 over Richmond to start Atlantic 10 play.
VCU will play its next game at Davidson College on Friday, Feb. 13 at 5 p.m.