Women's Tennis Drops Season Finale Saturday at James Madison, 5-2

Saturday, April 16

Harrisonburg, Va.

12 p.m.

Drexel University

James Madison

Photo by: UNCW Athletics Communications

Women's Tennis Drops Season Finale Saturday at James Madison, 5-2

4/16/2016 4:52:00 PM | Women's Tennis

HARRISONBURG, Va. -- Drexel Tennis' men's team made history Saturday morning by beating the James Madison Dukes for the first time in program history, 5-2. The women's team fell to the Dukes, 5-2.

With the win the Dragons' men improve to 13-7 on the season reaching the 13-win mark for the first time in the team's history. The women drop to 13-6 overall this season. With the regular season now complete, Drexel will now turn its attention to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship in Elon, N.C. next weekend.

"The men were on a mission today," head coach Mehdi Rhazali said. "It was great to watch them do exactly what they were told. We fought hard and it was a great team win, and all the credit goes to each and every one of them. We have been growing and we always have room to grow more and improve. We are looking forward to continuing the hard work as we head to CAAs."

The women's team couldn't find their stride against the Dukes, but managed to take the singles matches at Nos. 2 and 4. Clary Rodriguez Cruz rolled to victory at No. 2 over Rachel Nelson, 6-0, 6-3. Lea Winkler followed that up at No. 4 with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Bella Heidenreich.

Taking the advice they got on Thursday when they met tennis legend Nick Bollettieri, the Dragons jumped out to a fast start by sweeping doubles to take the point. They would then go onn to win four of the six singles matches. Kashyap Ashok and Sinan Orhon downed the Dukes' top duo of Maxi Branth and Tristan Stitt, 6-4, followed by Daniil Ginzburg and Hamza Laalej beating Miljan Ruzic and Sebastian Salinas, 6-3. Xabier Saavedra and Balaji Lakshmanan then finished off the Dukes in doubles with a 6-3 victory over Alex Berdnikoff and Brett Moorhead.

In singles, the men grabbed four wins, including two in three sets. Orhon kept on his tear through his freshman campaign, beating Branth, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Laalej then won at No. 4 against Stitt by a score of 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-0, followed by Lakshmanan's 6-1, 7-5 win over Rusic. At No. 6, Ginzburg polished off JMU with a win over Berdnikoff, 7-5, 6-3.

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Women: James Madison 5, Drexel 2
Singles
Timea Guibe (JMU) DEF Honami Yazawa (DU), 5-7, 6-0, 6-2
Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU) DEF Rachel Nelson (JMU), 6-0, 6-3
Kimmy Herrock (JMU) DEF Kendra Bunch (DU), 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
Emma Petersen (JMU) DEF Ryshena Providence (DU), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
Lea Winkler (DU) DEF Bella Heidenreich (JMU), 6-4, 6-2
Rebecca Harris (JMU) DEF Fiorella Coria (DU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

Doubles
Amos & Harris (JMU) DEF Yazawa & Rodriguez Cruz (DU), 6-3
Guibe & Herrock (JMU) DEF Providence & Bowsher (DU), 6-2
Petersen & Heidenreich (JMU) DEF Bunch & Winkler (DU), 6-2

Men: Drexel 5, James Madison 2
Singles
Sebastian Salinas (JMU) DEF Xabier Saavedra (DU), 6-1, 7-5
Brett Moorhead (JMU) DEF Andrew Sinai (DU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Sinan Orhon (DU) DEF Maxi Branth (JMU), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Hamza Laalej (DU) DEF Tristan Stitt (JMU), 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-0
Balaji Lakshmanan (DU) DEF Miljan Rusic (JMU), 6-1, 7-5
Daniil Ginzburg (DU) DEF Alex Berdnikoff (JMU), 7-5, 6-3

Doubles
Orhon & Ashok (DU) DEF Branth & Stitt (JMU), 6-4
Ginzburg & Laalej (DU) DEF Ruzic & Salinas (JMU), 6-3
Saavedra & Lakshmanan (DU) DEF Berdnikoff & Moorhead (JMU), 6-3