Women's Tennis Matches Best Start Since 2008-09, Beats Villanova

Friday, February 20

Legacy Center

8:30 a.m.

Drexel University

Villanova

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Tennis Matches Best Start Since 2008-09, Beats Villanova

2/20/2015 3:26:00 PM | Women'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."

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.

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.

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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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

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)