Men's Tennis Earns Tough Win Saturday Over Wagner, 5-2

Saturday, March 5

Drexel Armory

1 p.m.

Drexel University

Wagner

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Men's Tennis Earns Tough Win Saturday Over Wagner, 5-2

3/5/2016 6:44:00 PM | Men's Tennis

PHILADELPHIA -- Drexel Tennis earned a pair of tough wins Saturday over Wagner at the Armory as the men won, 5-2, and the women won, 6-1.

With the wins, the Dragons' men's and women's teams improved to 8-3 and 8-2, respectively.

The men started off the day by picking up an important doubles point, led by the top pair of Balaji Lakshmanan and Hamza Laalej. The duo would win 7-6 (1), followed by wins at No. 2 from Kashyap Ashok and Sinan Orhon, who won 6-2, and at No. 3 from Vuk Subotic and Xabier Saavedra, who grabbed a tough 7-6 (8) victory.

In singles play, the men carried the momentum, winning at three of the top four spots. Freshman Andrew Sinai, who has been bumped up to No. 1 in recent weeks, earned a three-set win over the Seahawks' top competitor, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. The Dragons' senior leader Xabier Saavedra then just needed two sets to take the victory at No. 2, 7-5, 6-2. Balaji Lakshamanan picked up the victory, winning 7-5, 6-3, followed by sophomore Vuk Subotic grabbing a 6-4, 6-2 victory to continue breathin new life into the No. 6 position.

Drexel's women toyed with the lineup a bit against the Seahawks, and prevailed in the end. The Dragons jumped on Wagner from the opening serve in doubles play, and did not give the Seahawks a chance. Kendra Bunch and Lea Winkler continued their dominance as a pairing, sweeping a 6- 0 win. Then Erin Bowsher and Ryshena Providence teamed up for a 6-1 win at No. 2, following by a win from a rare pairing, Fiorella Coria and Anisiya Simpson, which also won, 6-1.

In singles play, the senior Bowsher battled to a 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 win in the top spot, followed by Lea Winkler, who jumped up from her usual position of No. 4 to No. 2 to grab an easy 6-1, 6-1 win. Bunch then took care of business at No. 3, 6-0, 6-4. The bottom half of the singles ladder saw a couple of Dragons see their first action of the spring season. After freshman Simpson jumped up to No. 4 for a 6-1, 6-2 win, Coria earned her first win of the season, cruising 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5. Sophomore Jennifer White also saw action on Saturday at No. 6 for head coach Mehdi Rhazali's squad.

The Dragons face a quick turnaround as they travel to NJIT for matches beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

---

Men: Drexel 5, Wagner 2

Singles

Andrew Sinai (DU) DEF Sandy (WC), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

Xabier Saavedra (DU) DEF Lu (WC), 7-5, 6-2

Balaji Lakshmanan (DU) DEF Kneppelhand (WC), 7-5, 6-3

Poland (WC) DEF Hamza Laalej (DU), 2-6, 7-6, 7-5

Boyd (WC) DEF Sinan Orhon (DU), 6-3, 2-6, 10-7

Vuk Subotic (DU) DEF Wong (WC), 6-4, 6-2

Doubles

Laalej & Lakshmanan (DU) DEF Lu & Wang (WC), 7-6 (1)