UNC WILMINGTON TOPPLES VCU IN CAA CHAMPIONSHIP
4-19-09
NORFOLK, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University fell just short in its bid for a 12th Colonial Athletic Association title Sunday, dropping a 4-3 decision to upstart UNC Wilmington at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center at Old Dominion University.

The second-seeded Rams (17-9) had won 11 of the previous 13 CAA Championships. UNCW was making its first championship appearance.

VCU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match behind doubles victories from senior Emil Lindgren and freshman Benjamin Bouhana on the No. 1 court and freshman Filip Svensson and sophomore Bobo Delemark on the No. 3 court.

However, the Seahawks scored wins in four of the six singles matches, including three that reached three sets.

The Rams did remain in contention with a 6-1, 6-0 win by Martin Schulhauser over Gustava Bertei on the No. 1 court, as well as a 6-3, 6-2 triumph by Delemark over Alex Wetherell on the No. 6.

#1 UNC Wilmington 4, #2 VCU 3
Doubles
1. Lindgren/Bouhana (VCU) d. Ybarra/Bertei, 8-5
2. Ziamtsou/Sharma (UNCW) d. Schulhauser/Vinel, 8-6
3. Svensson/Delemark (VCU) d. Pereira/Wetherell, 8-3
Singles
1. Martin Schulhauser (VCU) d. Gustavo Bertei, 6-1, 6-0
2. Michael Pereira (UNCW) d. Emil Lindgren, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5
3. Kinshuk Sharma (UNCW) d. Nicolas Vinel, 7-6 (5), 6-3
4. Ryan Ybarra (UNCW) d. Benjamin Bouhana, 6-3, 6-7 (8-6), 6-3
5. Illia Ziamtsou (UNCW) d. Filip Svennson, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
6. Bobo Delemark (VCU) d. Alex Wetherell, 6-3, 6-2