Women's Tennis Prevails in Tight 4-3 Match Wednesday at Saint Joseph's

Wednesday, March 30

Philadelphia, Pa.

1:30 p.m.

Drexel University

Saint Joseph's

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Tennis Prevails in Tight 4-3 Match Wednesday at Saint Joseph's

3/30/2016 7:47:00 PM | Women's Tennis

PHILADELPHIA – Drexel Tennis' women's and men's teams each rode the momentum of taking the doubles point to defeat Saint Joseph's Wednesday on the road, 4-3.

The women's team advances to 11-4 this season. With the win, Drexel's men improve to 10-6 on the year. This is now the first time in program history the team has amassed double-digit victories in three consecutive seasons.

The women's team would sweep its way to the doubles point, which would prove crucial in earning the match win. Honami Yazawa and Clary Rodriguez Cruz stood tough at No. 1, beating Claire Minnoe and Alex Zachem in a tiebreak, 7-6 (3). At No. 2, Kendra Bunch and Lea Winkler teamed up for the 6-1 dusting of Kristen Eisenbrand and Sarah Contrata. The win was Bunch's 30th career doubles victory as just a sophomore. Erin Bowsher and Ryshena Providence would then finish off the Hawks at No. 3, earning a victory over the Devlin sisters, 7-5.

In singles, the Dragons got a win at the top of the ladder and two at the bottom to do the Hawks in. Yazawa cruised past Minnoe, 6-0, 6-4, at No. 1 to get the team started. Then after a couple of tough losses in the middle three matches, including a three-setter at No. 2, the Dragons got wins from Winkler and Fiorella Coria at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively, to bring the win back to University City. Winkler came back from a set down to beat Arianne Polatnick, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, followed by Coria breezing to the 6-0, 6-3 win over Anne Marie Devlin at No. 6.

The Dragons needed everything they had to come away with the men's team win. After dropping the No. 1 doubles match, Drexel pulled out wins at Nos. 2 and 3 to come away with the point. Kashyap Ashok and Sinan Orhon fought to a 7-5 win over Kevin Gates and Tristan Boustany at No. 2, while Xabier Saavedra and Balaji Lakshmanan took their match against Peter Dewitt and Dan Tan, 6-4.

In singles, the Dragons got impressive performances from the middle of the lineup to seal the victory. Hamza Laalej came back from dropping the first set to earn a 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 win over Boustany at No. 3. At No. 4, Orhon continued his tear, easily dispatching Andre Fick, 6-1, 6-2. Lakshmanan would put away the match at No. 5, also coming back from dropping the first set to beat Gates, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

The Dragons will return to action in their first outdoor home match on Sunday at 1 p.m. against Hofstra. Drexel will honor its two seniors, Saavedra and Bowsher.

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Women: Drexel 4, Saint Joseph's 3
Singles
Honami Yazawa (DU) DEF Claire Minnoe (SJU), 6-0, 6-4
Maureen Devlin (SJU) DEF Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU), 3-6, 7-6, 7-4
Kristina Eisenbrand (SJU) DEF Kendra Bunch (DU), 6-3, 6-4
Alex Zachem (SJU) DEF Ryshena Providence (DU), 6-2, 7-5
Lea Winkler (DU) DEF Arriane Polatnick (SJU), 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
Fiorella Coria (DU) DEF Anne Marie Devlin (SJU), 6-0, 6-3

Doubles
Yazawa & Rodriguez Cruz (DU) DEF Minnoe & Zachem (SJU), 7-6 (3)
Winkler & Bunch (DU) DEF Eisenbrand & Contrata (SJU), 6-1
Bowsher & Providence (DU) DEF M. Devlin & A.M. Devlin (SJU), 7-5

Men: Drexel 4, Saint Joseph's 3
Singles
Andres Urrea (SJU) DEF Xabier Saavedra (DU), 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
Kyle Chalmers (SJU) DEF Andrew Sinai (DU), 6-4, 6-4
Hamza Laalej (DU) DEF Tristan Boustany (SJU), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4
Sinan Orhon (DU) DEF Andre Fick (SJU), 6-1, 6-2
Balaji Lakshmanan (DU) DEF Kevin Gates (SJU), 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
Peter Dewitt (SJU) DEF Daniil Ginzburg (DU), 6-2, 6-1

Doubles
Chalmers & Urrea (SJU) DEF Ginzburg & Laalej (DU), 6-4
Ashok & Orhon (DU) DEF Gates & Boustany (SJU), 7-5
Saavedra & Lakshmanan (DU) DEF Dewitt & Tan (SJU), 6-4