Men's Tennis Earns 4-3 Win, Women Sweep Saturday at Sacred Heart

Saturday, February 13

Fairfield, Conn.

5 p.m.

Drexel University

Sacred Heart

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Men's Tennis Earns 4-3 Win, Women Sweep Saturday at Sacred Heart

2/13/2016 10:49:00 PM | Men's Tennis

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Drexel Tennis earned a men's team 4-3 win and a women's team 7-0 sweep to continue its strong early season push Saturday against Sacred Heart.

Both teams improve to 6-1 on the year with wins. The Dragons swept their weekend matches in Connecticut.

"The men had a slow start today in doubles, really taking the match down to singles," head coach Mehdi Rhazali said. "They did it for each other. We needed a close win today especially after that tough loss to Lehigh last weekend. I'm proud of how we handled the pressure I'm proud of how we handled the pressure today and fought hard to the last point.

"The women played with great energy tonight. Our maturity level is improving a lot and we need that to play well, be mentally tough and consistent in our decision making."

The men earned a tight 4-3 win after getting swept in doubles play. Needing to step up in singles play, the Dragons proved to be up to the task. Drexel took home wins at Nos. 2 through 5 to bring home the 4-3 win. Andrew Sinai won in straight sets over Matt Dean, 6-2, 6-2, followed by Balaji Lakshmanan at No. 3 winning in a three-set match over Derek Chapman, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6. After Hamza Laalej cruised to the 6-2, 6-4 win, Sinan Orhon picked up the deciding victory after dropping the first set, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Drexel's women played an impressive match to earn the sweep. In doubles play, Honami Yazawa and Clary Rodriguez Cruz cruised to the 6-1 win, followed by Kendra Bunch and Lea Winkler continuing their dominant partnership for a 6-4 win. Erin Bowsher and Ryshena Providence closed out doubles play with a 6-4 victory of their own.

In singles play, the Dragons continued their momentum right through to the end. Yazawa beat the previously undefeated in match play Katie DiRienzo at No. 1, 6-1, 6-3. Rodriguez Cruz then again cruised to victory, beating Lindsey Post, 6-2, 6-3. Senior Bowsher closed out a 6-2, 6-3 victory of her own at No. 3. In the bottom half of singles play, Winkler earned a 6-4, 6-3 victory, followed by Bunch's 6-2, 6-2 win over Taylor Gurda at No. 5. Providence took home the widest margin of victory at No. 6 over Claudia Ruiz, 6-0, 6-1.

The Dragons will return to action against Villanova Friday afternoon at Legacy Center.

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Men: Drexel 4, Sacred Heart 3
Singles
Brian Power (SHU) DEF Xabier Saavedra (DU), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
Andrew Sinai (DU) DEF Matt Dean (SHU), 6-2, 6-2
Balaji Lakshmanan (DU) DEF Derek Chapman (SHU), 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3)
Hamza Laalej (DU) DEF Karan Narula (SHU), 6-2, 6-4
Sinan Orhon (DU) DEF Mathieu Pilote (SHU), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
Cory Seltman (SHU) DEF Kashyap Ashok (DU), 6-2, 7-6

Doubles
Power & Dean (SHU) DEF Laalej & Lakshmanan (DU), 6-4
Pilote & Seltman (SHU) DEF Orhon & Ashok (DU), 6-2
Narula & Chapman (SHU) DEF Sinai & Subotic (DU), 6-3

Women: Drexel 7, Sacred Heart 0
Singles
Honami Yazawa (DU) DEF Katie DiRienzo (SHU), 6-1, 6-3
Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU) DEF Lindsey Post (SHU), 6-2, 6-3
Erin Bowsher (DU) DEF Paige Olson (SHU), 6-2, 6-3
Lea Winkler (DU) DEF Olivia Podsiebierski (SHU), 6-4, 6-3
Kendra Bunch (DU) DEF Taylor Gurda (SHU), 6-2, 6-2
Ryshena Providence (DU) DEF Claudia Ruiz (SHU), 6-0, 6-1

Doubles
Yazawa & Rodriguez Cruz (DU) DEF Post & Olson (SHU), 6-1
Winkler & Bunch (DU) DEF DiRienzo & Gurda (SHU), 6-4
Bowsher & Providence (DU) DEF Podsiebierski & Ruiz (SHU), 6-4