Men's Tennis Falls Thursday in Orlando to Central Florida, 5-1

Thursday, March 26

Orlando, Fla.

2 p.m.

Drexel University

Central Florida

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Men's Tennis Falls Thursday in Orlando to Central Florida, 5-1

3/26/2015 4:58:00 PM | Men's Tennis

ORLANDO, Fla. – Drexel Tennis's men faced perhaps their toughest foe of the year in Central Florida on Thursday afternoon in Orlando, Fla., falling to the Knights, 1-5. Drexel's women had begun their scheduled match Friday afternoon at Central Florida before the rain came and cancelled the match.

The loss drops the Dragons to 10-7 overall on the year. This marks the first time all season that Drexel Tennis has lost back-to-back matches. Drexel women remain 12-1 on the year.

"The men fought hard but fell short," head coach Mehdi Rhazali said. "The important points didn't go in our favor in most of the matches. The energy level was high, and we played smart against a tough UCF program. I was impressed with how Hamza handled his match. He played aggressive when he needed to and played defensive when he needed to. Basically, he played an excellent game and deserved to win.

"We are getting better with these challenging matches, which we need before conference play begins. We will bounce back to winning soon, and we wil finish strong because we prepared hard."

Drexel and Central Florida only played singles in Thursday's match, with the Knights winning, 5-1. Hamza Laalej won his match for the Dragons' lone victory, 7-5, 6-4. The freshman's win improves an already impressive first-year mark, as he sits at 10-3 overall and 8-1 from the fifth position.

The Knights got the best of the Dragons' top two spots – Badr Ouabdelmoumen and Kashyap Ashok – each in straight sets. In the third spot, Alex Fioravante battled to get the Blue and Gold on the board, fighting to three sets, ultimately falling, 10-4, in the final frame.

In the back half of the six singles matches, the Knights outlasted both Xabier Saavedra and Dan Koehler in the fourth and sixth positions, respectively. Laalej's win at the No. 5 spot got the Dragons on the board for the match.

Drexel's women ultimately saw their match against the Knights start but remain unfinished because of rain. Only one match had become final, as Drexel freshmen Kendra Bunch fell, 6-3, 6-3.

The Dragons were leading one set to zero in a match and tied one set to one set in another. Nicole Pivonka won the first set of her match from the No. 1 spot in a tiebreak, 7-6 (6) before the rain washed out her match at 1-1 in the second set. In the No. 3 position, Clary Rodriguez Cruz won her first set, 7-5 (5), and fell, 2-6, in the second before the rains came.

The Dragons now head home for their Colonial Athletic Association opener when they host James Madison for Alumni Day on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. The match is scheduled to be played at Vidas Courts, the Dragons' first outdoor home match of the spring season.

Follow Drexel Tennis on Facebook and Twitter for updates and news heading into Sunday's match.

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Men: Drexel 1, UCF 5
Singles
Francesc Aulina (UCF) def. Badr Ouabdelmoumen (DU) 6-2, 6-1
Jose Sangorniz (UCF) def. Kashyap Ashok (DU) 6-1, 6-1
Inaki Espinolda (UCF) def. Alex Fioravante (DU) 5-7, 6-3, 10-4
Mariano Porter (UCF) def. Xabier Saavedra (DU) 6-3, 6-2
Hamza Laalej (DU) def. Jesse Flores (UCF) 7-5, 6-4
Reece Acree (UCF) def. Dan Koehler (DU) 6-1, 7-5

Women (unfinished)
Singles
Nicole Pivonka (DU) unfinished Caroline Eberhart (UCF) 7-6 (6), 1-1
Erin Bowsher (DU) unfinished Cortney Cesarini (UCF) 6-7 (4), 4-4
Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU) unfinished Kennan Johnson (UCF) 7-5 (5), 2-6
Lea Winkler (DU) unfinished Clare Mendell (UCF) 3-6, 4-5
Ryshena Providence (DU) unfinished Monica Matias (UCF) 4-6, 3-5
Sofia Baptista (UCF) def. Kendra Bunch (DU) 6-3, 6-3