Men's and Women's Tennis Split Matches at Lehigh

Saturday, January 26

Bethlehem, Pa.

11:00 a.m.

Drexel University

Lehigh

Men's and Women's Tennis Split Matches at Lehigh

1/26/2013 7:06:00 PM | Women's Tennis

PHILADELPHIA - Drexel men's and women's tennis teams split results as today's competition came to an end. The men suffered a 6-1 defeat to Lehigh while the women emerged with a 5-2 victory.

The men's team was off to a great start as Skylar Davis and Badr Ouabdelmoumen won the first of three doubles matches 8-6. They were able to close the net and put immediate pressure on the Mountain Hawks. Despite the teams best efforts, the Dragons could not upset Lehigh.

In the singles, Ouabdelmoumen played a two hour match winning his first set 7-6, but unable to outlast his opponent in the next two sets. At the No. 2 for Drexel, Davis had strong serves and an impressive net game which won him his second set 6-4. He could not hold on though as he fell short and lost 4-6 in the third. Finally at No. 5 freshman Xavier Saavedra brought home the teams second win of the day. Saavedra won 6-2, 6-3, in his first spring match as a Dragon. He played high quality tennis with quick movement and ease.

On the women's side, the Dragons wasted no time with a sweep in doubles as teams of Zeynep Mafa and Marcela Rosales, Alex Bell and Nicole Pivonka, and Aysenil Orhon and Mel Reyes bested each Mountain Hawk effort. Mafa and Rosales continue to standout as their movement on the court remains aggressive and in unison. They consistently held serve and broke opponents serves to post an 8-2 win. After coming back 6-5 on serve, Bell and Pivonka managed to use communication and strategy to reach an 8-6 win. Orhon and Reyes used basic technique and simplified the game as they took their match 8-6.

In singles play, Mafa stood out once again as she lost her first set 6-7 but fought her way back physically as well as mentally to steal the second set 7-5 and win the match with 10-2 in a tiebreaker. In the third singles position, Bell stuck to her planned strategy, played great defense, and went on to win her match 7-5, 6-1. Pivonka and Orhon won each of their matches in two quick sets 6-1, 6-0, and 6-1, 6-1, respectively.

The men take on St. Francis tomorrow at home at 5:30 p.m., while the women do not return until Tuesday, February 5 as they travel to St. Peters for a 2:00 p.m. match.