Men's Tennis Returns to Win Column, Beats Villanova, 5-2

Friday, February 20

Legacy Center

8:30 a.m.

Drexel University

Villanova

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Men's Tennis Returns to Win Column, Beats Villanova, 5-2

2/20/2015 3:28:00 PM | Men's Tennis

PHILADELPHIA – Drexel men's and women's tennis began the weekend with matching, 5-2, victories over Villanova at Legacy Center on Friday morning.

The men now advance to 8-3 on the season. The women remain perfect at 9-0, matching their start from the 2008-09 season. This is the team's best start under head coach Mehdi Rhazali.

"I'm impressed with how mature and smart we played today, and I can't wait to see more from the women against Penn on Sunday. We are 9-0, and we have to stay humble and keep doing the work," Rhazali said. "On the men's side, having Badr (Ouabdelmoumen) back in the line-up helped a lot. We bounced back to winning, and we needed it. We played smart and wanted it more. The energy was consistent and we did well."

On the men's side, the Dragons were boosted by Ouabdelmoumen's return to the line-up. And in doubles, they needed any help they could get to win the point. Kashyap Ashok and Dan Koehler teamed up to win a gritty match, 7-5. Ouabdelmoumen then reunited with partner Daniel Hansen to win in a tiebreak, 7-6 (5).

In men's singles play, Ouabdelmoumen again made his return to the court felt, winning in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5. After Xabier Saavedra picked up a straight set, 6-4, 6-3, win, Hamza Laalej and Koehler each grabbed three-set victories for the Dragons to take the match. Laalej dropped the first set then nearly blanked his Nova opponent the rest of the way, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0. Koehler took care of business in the third set with the match split, winning 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.

The Dragons' women battled back from a slow start to ultimately take the doubles point. Erin Bowsher and Ryshena Providence turned in a tough performance, pulling out the 7-5 win. Nicole Pivonka and Clary Rodriguez Cruz continued their dominant partnership, winning 6-4 to take the point.

In singles play, four of the six matches were decided in three sets. Bowsher and Fiorella Coria each grabbed a three-set victory. Bowsher dropped the second set and won, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, while Coria battled her way through a one set deficit to win the final two, 4-6, 6-4, 10-4. Pivonka and Rodriguez Cruz each won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1 and 6-4, 6-4, respectively.

Drexel's women face a quick turnaround, heading down 33^rd Street to take on Penn on Sunday at noon. The men will host Monmouth on Thursday at noon at Legacy Center.

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Men: Drexel 5, Villanova 2
Singles
Badr Ouabdelmoumen (DU) def. Mark Miller (VU) 6-3, 7-5
Chris Seitz (VU) def. Alex Fioravante (DU) 6-0, 7-6 (4)
Bradley Noyes (VU) def. Kashyap Ashok (DU) 6-2, 6-0
Xabier Saavedra (DU) def. Tim Abbracciamento (VU) 6-4, 6-3
Hamza Laalej (DU) def. Matt Phelps (VU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-0
Dan Koehler (DU) def. Justin Burrus (VU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2

Doubles
Donaldson & Miller (VU) def. Fioravante & Saavedra (DU) 6-3
Ashok & Koehler (DU) def. Seitz & Noyes (VU) 7-5
Ouabdelmoumen & Hansen (DU) def. Abbracciamento & Elmore (VU) 7-6 (5)

Women: Drexel 5, Villanova 2
Singles
Nicole Pivonka (DU) def. Alexandra Krogius (VU) 6-2, 6-1
Erin Bowsher (DU) def. Victoria Martinez (VU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU) def. Paulina Paget (VU) 6-4, 6-4
Sam Schafer (VU) def. Ryshena Providence (DU) 7-6, 2-6, 10-7
Kate Pettee (VU) def. Kendra Bunch (DU) 6-7, 7-5, 10-8
Fiorella Coria (DU) def. Linley Busby (VU) 4-6, 6-4, 10-4

Doubles
Pivonka & Rodriguez Cruz (DU) def. Martinez & Schafer (VU) 6-4
Bowsher & Providence (DU) def. Baget & Brokaw (VU) 7-5
Pettee & Busby (VU) def. Winkler & Bunch (DU) 6-2