Feb. 14, 2003

RICHMOND, Va. - The Wake Forest men's tennis team suffered its first loss of the season Friday night, falling 5-2 to No. 16 Virginia Commonwealth at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. The Rams took two of three doubles matches to go up 1-0 early in the match and then won four of six singles matches to finish off the 22nd-ranked Demon Deacons 5-2.

David Loewenthal, the ACC Player of the Week, won both his singles and doubles matches for Wake Forest, teaming up with Trent Brendon to upset 48th-ranked Florian Marquardt and Pedro Nieto 8-5 in No. 1 doubles. Loewenthal rallied to beat No. 41 Marquardt in the top singles match 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Derrick Spice was the only other Deacon to pick up a singles win on the day, fighting past Mats Norin 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4 at No. 4 singles. The sophomore runs his dual singles record to 5-0 with the victory.

Wake Forest falls to 4-1 with the loss and VCU improves to 8-2 with the win. The Demon Deacons return to action tomorrow afternoon when they take on No. 10 Minnesota at 2:00 p.m. in VCU's Thalhimer Tennis Center.

#16 VCU 5, #20 WAKE FOREST 2

SINGLES
1 - #35 David Loewenthal (WFU) def. #41 Florian Marquardt (VCU), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-4
2 - Marton Ott (VCU) def. David Bere (WFU), 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
3 - #80 Pedro Nieto (VCU) def. #109 Mike Murray (WFU), 6-1, 7-5
4 - Derrick Spice (WFU) def. Mats Norin (VCU), 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4
5 - Daniel Casquero (VCU) def. #123 Trent Brendon (WFU), 6-4, 7-5
6 - Julien Lousao (VCU) def. Brett Ross (WFU), 2-6, 6-2, (10-8)

Order of Finish: 3,5,2*,1,4,6

DOUBLES
1 - Loewenthal/Brendon (WFU) def. #48 Marquardt/Nieto (VCU) 8-5
2 - Ott/Norin (VCU) def. Murray/Spice (WFU), 8-6
3 - Casquero/Francesc Lleal (VCU) def. Bere/Ross (WFU), 8-5

Order of finish: 1,3,2
Team Records: VCU 8-2, Wake Forest 4-1
*Deciding match