Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Saint Joseph's
Men's Tennis Edges Saint Joseph's 4-3
4/8/2008 6:53:18 PM | Men's Tennis
Philadelphia - Senior Omar Laalej came back from one set down to pull out a thrilling three-set victory over Pat Adams at first singles, in the decisive contest of Drexel's dramatic 4-3 victory over Saint Joseph's. Drexel won two of three doubles matches to earn a crucial team point en route to the Dragons' eighth victory of the season.
After dropping the first set 6-7 in tiebreaker, Laalej dominated his opponent in a 6-2 victory in the second set. With all eyes on court one, Laalej easily took his first two service games and broke Adams in his first to take a 3-0 lead. Adams broke back to make it a 3-1 contest and was on the virge of closing the gap later in the set when Laalej broke him to make it 4-2. A frustrated Adams spiked one of his tennis balls, drawing the ire of the official for the second time that match, which resulted in a game being awarded to Laalej as a penalty. With a 5-2 lead the senior served out his 18th singles victory of the season and lifted his team to the win over its city rival Saint Joseph's.
At third singles, Carlo Pangilinan turned in an equally gutty performance after falling behind in a 3-6 loss in the first set. Pangilinan gathered himself to even the match at a set apiece with a 6-2 win over Nick Tuxen. He gave the Dragons their second singles point of the match by closing out a dominant 6-1 performance in third set. His teammate Sabayaschi Bose followed suit with a win in straight sets at fourth singles to knot the match at three points each after losses by the Dragons at second, fifth and sixth singles.
On the doubles side, Laalej and freshman Jason Savage-Pollock bested Phil Garabedian and Pat Cerruti 8-5. Pangilinan and Koebele did the same against Tixen and Michael Stauble to give the Dragons the overall victory in doubles play.
The Dragons are back in action on Thursday, April 10 when they host Coppin State in a 2:00 p.m. match at the Vidas Athletic Complex.
Match Results
Drexel 4, Saint Joseph's 3
Singles
Omar Laalej (DU) def. Pat Adams (SJU) 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-2
Phil Garabedian (SJU) def. Joe Koebele (DU) 6-3, 6-2
Carlo Pangilinan (DU) def. Nick Tuxen (SJU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Sabyasachi Bose (DU) def. Pat Cerruti (SJU) 7-5, 6-2
Matt Prusack (SJU) def. Jason Savage-Pollock (DU) 6-2, 7-5
Matt Stauble (SJU) def. Alex Barnes (DU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Doubles
Laalej/Savage-Pollock (DU) def. Garabedian/Cerruti (SJU) 8-5
Pangilinan/Koebele (DU) def. Tuxen/Stauble (SJU) 8-5
Adams/Prusack (SJU) def. Bose/Popovice (DU) 8-0
