Friday, March 6
West Point, N.Y.
3 p.m.
Drexel University
4
at
3
Fordham
Photo by: Greg Carroccio
Women's Tennis Defeats Fordham, Men Fall to Army in West Point
3/6/2015 9:24:00 PM | Women's Tennis
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Drexel men's and women's tennis travelled to West Point, N.Y. on Friday, as the women defeated Fordham, 4-3, and the men fell to United States Military Academy, 1-6.
The women improve their record to 10-1 overall on the season and 4-1 on the road. The men still hold a solid mark for the year at 9-5 overall.
"On the women's side we won a big doubles point after working so much on doubles in practice," head coach Mehdi Rhazali said. "The girls played smart tennis and showed more mental toughness today than any other match we've had so far this season. We are getting better and definitely need to keep it up.
"The men fought hard, but sometimes good isn't good enough. We have to control our emotions better and regroup faster because we lost some games where we lacked concentration. That's a big factor in tennis. The energy was better, and the match could have gone either way. We just have to fill the cracks and clean up our game a bit more."
Drexel's women showcased their mental toughness in their win over Fordham. The Dragons battled their way to win a tough doubles point. Nicole Pivonka and Clary Rodriguez Cruz teamed up to continue their strong season, winning in a close tiebreak, 8-7 (7). Lea Winkler and Kendra Bunch took the point home with an 8-3 victory.
In singles play, the Dragons continued their strong play. Pivonka showed why she plays from the No. 1 position, beating Ellie Ball, 6-1, 6-3. Erin Bowsher played a tough match at No. 2, taking Sarah Ali to three sets but ultimately falling 7-6 (1), 6-3, 10-5. In the second half of singles, Winkler and Bunch helped bring the match home. Winkler beat Julie Leong, 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 4 spot, while Bunch sealed the match for Drexel, winning, 6-4, 6-1.
The women were originally slated to play Army, but the Black Knights were battling too many injuries to compete.
The men began the day with a loss to the Black Knights but not before they played some tough matches. In doubles, Alex Fioravante and Xabier Saavedra played Sam Lampman and Alex Van Velzer to a close 8-5 score, while Badr Ouabdelmoumen and Daniel Hansen took a tough loss against Austin McCasin and Kyle Barnes, 8-6.
In singles play, Saavedra took home the Dragons' lone victory, defeating Caison Best in three sets, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2. Hamza Laalej and Dan Koehler each forced their Black Knights opponent to three sets. Laalej blanked Michael Nguyen in the second but fell, 6-3, 0-6, 6-4, while Koehler also took the second set in a 6-4, 6-7, 11-9 loss. Fioravante forced a tiebreak in both sets of his match, but ultimately fell, 6-7, 6-7.
The Dragons return to the court on Sunday when they host Wagner at the Armory. The men begin at 10:30 a.m., while the women will follow at 2 p.m. Drexel is a combined 14-1 at home this year.
---
Women: Drexel 4, Fordham 3
Singles
Nicole Pivonka (DU) def. Ellie Ball (FU) 6-1, 6-3
Sarah Ali (FU) def. Erin Bowsher (DU) 7-6 (1), 3-6, 10-5
Festelle Wong (FU) def. Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU) 6-2, 6-2
Lea Winkler (DU) def. Julie Leong (FU) 6-3, 6-3
Destiny Gronin (FU) def. Ryshena Providence (DU) 6-1, 6-1
Kendra Bunch (DU) def. Anika Novacek (FU) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
Pivonka & Rodriguez Cruz (DU) def. Ball & Ali (FU) 8-7 (7)
Wong & Leong (FU) def. Bowsher & Providence (DU) 8-6
Winkler & Bunch (DU) def. Novacek & Genkina (FU) 8-3
Men: Army 6, Drexel 1
Singles
1. Sam Lampman (USMA) def. Badr Ouabdelmoumen (DU), 6-3, 6-4
2. Grant Riechmann (USMA) def. Kashyap Ashok (DU), 6-0, 6-4
3. Austin McCasin (USMA) def. Alex Fioravante (DU), 7-6, 7-6
4. Xabier Saavedra (DU) def. Caison Best (USMA), 7-6, 2-6, 6-2
5. Michael Nguyen (USMA) def. Hamza Laalej (DU), 6-3, 0-6, 6-4
6. Peter Sienko (USMA) def. Dan Koehler (DU), 6-4, 6-7, 11-9
Doubles
1. Sam Lampman & Alex Van Velzer (USMA) def. Alex Fioravante & Xabier Saavedra (DU), 8-5
2. Harrison McCormick & Grant Riechmann (USMA) def. Kashyap Ashok & Dan Koehler (DU), 8-1
3. Austin McCasin & Kyle Barnes (USMA) def. Badr Ouabdelmoumen & Daniel Hansen (DU), 8-6
The women improve their record to 10-1 overall on the season and 4-1 on the road. The men still hold a solid mark for the year at 9-5 overall.
"On the women's side we won a big doubles point after working so much on doubles in practice," head coach Mehdi Rhazali said. "The girls played smart tennis and showed more mental toughness today than any other match we've had so far this season. We are getting better and definitely need to keep it up.
"The men fought hard, but sometimes good isn't good enough. We have to control our emotions better and regroup faster because we lost some games where we lacked concentration. That's a big factor in tennis. The energy was better, and the match could have gone either way. We just have to fill the cracks and clean up our game a bit more."
Drexel's women showcased their mental toughness in their win over Fordham. The Dragons battled their way to win a tough doubles point. Nicole Pivonka and Clary Rodriguez Cruz teamed up to continue their strong season, winning in a close tiebreak, 8-7 (7). Lea Winkler and Kendra Bunch took the point home with an 8-3 victory.
In singles play, the Dragons continued their strong play. Pivonka showed why she plays from the No. 1 position, beating Ellie Ball, 6-1, 6-3. Erin Bowsher played a tough match at No. 2, taking Sarah Ali to three sets but ultimately falling 7-6 (1), 6-3, 10-5. In the second half of singles, Winkler and Bunch helped bring the match home. Winkler beat Julie Leong, 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 4 spot, while Bunch sealed the match for Drexel, winning, 6-4, 6-1.
The women were originally slated to play Army, but the Black Knights were battling too many injuries to compete.
The men began the day with a loss to the Black Knights but not before they played some tough matches. In doubles, Alex Fioravante and Xabier Saavedra played Sam Lampman and Alex Van Velzer to a close 8-5 score, while Badr Ouabdelmoumen and Daniel Hansen took a tough loss against Austin McCasin and Kyle Barnes, 8-6.
In singles play, Saavedra took home the Dragons' lone victory, defeating Caison Best in three sets, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2. Hamza Laalej and Dan Koehler each forced their Black Knights opponent to three sets. Laalej blanked Michael Nguyen in the second but fell, 6-3, 0-6, 6-4, while Koehler also took the second set in a 6-4, 6-7, 11-9 loss. Fioravante forced a tiebreak in both sets of his match, but ultimately fell, 6-7, 6-7.
The Dragons return to the court on Sunday when they host Wagner at the Armory. The men begin at 10:30 a.m., while the women will follow at 2 p.m. Drexel is a combined 14-1 at home this year.
---
Women: Drexel 4, Fordham 3
Singles
Nicole Pivonka (DU) def. Ellie Ball (FU) 6-1, 6-3
Sarah Ali (FU) def. Erin Bowsher (DU) 7-6 (1), 3-6, 10-5
Festelle Wong (FU) def. Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU) 6-2, 6-2
Lea Winkler (DU) def. Julie Leong (FU) 6-3, 6-3
Destiny Gronin (FU) def. Ryshena Providence (DU) 6-1, 6-1
Kendra Bunch (DU) def. Anika Novacek (FU) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
Pivonka & Rodriguez Cruz (DU) def. Ball & Ali (FU) 8-7 (7)
Wong & Leong (FU) def. Bowsher & Providence (DU) 8-6
Winkler & Bunch (DU) def. Novacek & Genkina (FU) 8-3
Men: Army 6, Drexel 1
Singles
1. Sam Lampman (USMA) def. Badr Ouabdelmoumen (DU), 6-3, 6-4
2. Grant Riechmann (USMA) def. Kashyap Ashok (DU), 6-0, 6-4
3. Austin McCasin (USMA) def. Alex Fioravante (DU), 7-6, 7-6
4. Xabier Saavedra (DU) def. Caison Best (USMA), 7-6, 2-6, 6-2
5. Michael Nguyen (USMA) def. Hamza Laalej (DU), 6-3, 0-6, 6-4
6. Peter Sienko (USMA) def. Dan Koehler (DU), 6-4, 6-7, 11-9
Doubles
1. Sam Lampman & Alex Van Velzer (USMA) def. Alex Fioravante & Xabier Saavedra (DU), 8-5
2. Harrison McCormick & Grant Riechmann (USMA) def. Kashyap Ashok & Dan Koehler (DU), 8-1
3. Austin McCasin & Kyle Barnes (USMA) def. Badr Ouabdelmoumen & Daniel Hansen (DU), 8-6
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Drexel's Autocomplete With Tennis Coach Mehdi Rhazali
Tuesday, March 18
2018-2019 All Sport Highlight
Thursday, May 23
Men's Tennis Takes Down La Salle 6-1
Thursday, February 15
Drexel Top 10 Plays Presented by IBX on April 25, 2017
Tuesday, April 25
