Women's Tennis Dispatches Hofstra Sunday on Senior Day, 4-1

Sunday, April 3

Drexel Armory

11 a.m.

Drexel University

Hofstra (Senior Day)

Women's Tennis Dispatches Hofstra Sunday on Senior Day, 4-1

4/3/2016 7:22:00 PM | Women's Tennis

PHILADELPHIA – Drexel Tennis earned a pair of 4-1 wins Sunday at the Drexel Armory against Hofstra. The Dragons also held their Senior Day to honor Erin Bowsher and Xabier Saavedra.

Drexel's women's team improves to 12-4 on the year and 1-2 in conference play. The men's team is now 11-6 on the year and also 1-2 in Colonial Athletic Association competitions.

"Spring break made us tougher," head coach Mehdi Rhazali said. "We were on our toes today. We fought hard, and we couldn't have asked for a better Senior Day.

"We need to stay serious, focused and believe in the process because nothing is impossible."

The women's team jumped out to a quick start by winning the doubles point and carrying that momentum through singles play. The pair of Honami Yazawa and Clary Rodriguez Cruz as well as the always reliable duo of Kendra Bunch and Lea Winkler cruised to wins to secure the point.

In singles play, the Dragons got a quick win from Yazawa at No. 1 over Sarah Bowen, 6-3, 6-2. Bowsher earned the Senior Day win at No. 3, enduring a tough first set to win, 7-5, 6-1. Then at No. 4, Winkler sealed the victory with the 6-4, 6-2 win over Carmen Pestano. The win was Winkler's 40th of her career, making her the eighth women's player in program history to reach the milestone.

The men were put in an early hole after missing out on the doubles point. Saavedra and Balaji Lakshmanan rolled to a 6-0 sweep at No. 3, but the Dragons could not find victory in either of the other two matches.

The Dragons would fight their way through singles play to ultimately grab the win. Drexel swept the top half of the singles ladder. Saavedra beat Marcus Smith at No. 1, 6-4, 7-5, while Andrew Sinai took home the win at No. 2 over Niko Volinovich, 6-3, 6-3. Hamza Laalej then fought his way to a hard fought, 7-5, 7-6 (2) win at No. 3. Orhon continued his hot streak, putting Yahn Gawrit with ease, 6-3, 6-0, to clinch the match.

The women's team will have a midweek matchup against Towson at Vidas Courts on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Both teams will return to action together on Sunday at Delaware.

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Women: Drexel 4, Hofstra 1
Singles
Honami Yazawa (DU) DEF Sarah Bowen (HU), 6-3, 6-2
Michal Kaplan (HU) DEF Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU), 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Erin Bowsher (DU) DEF Herndon (HU), 7-5, 6-1
Lea Winkler (DU) DEF Carmen Pestano (HU), 6-4, 6-2
Ryshena Providence (DU) unfinished Yellayi (HU), 3-6, 6-1, (40-15)
Fiorella Coria (DU) unfinished Leone (HU), 6-3, 5-1 (40-15)

Doubles
Yazawa & Rodriguez Cruz (DU) DEF Bowen & Pestano (HU), 6-1
Bunch & Winkler (DU) DEF Kaplan & Herndon (HU), 6-0
Bowsher & Providence (DU) unfinished Yellayi & Leone (HU), 3-4

Men: Drexel 4, Hofstra 1
Singles
Xabier Saavedra (DU) DEF Marcus Smith (HU), 6-4, 7-5
Andrew Sinai (DU) DEF Niko Volinovich (HU), 6-3, 6-3
Hamza Laalej (DU) DEF Gustav Akesson (HU), 7-5, 7-6 (2)
Sinan Orhon (DU) DEF Yahn Gawrit (HU), 6-3, 6-0
Balaji Lakshmanan (DU) unfinished Zachary Chang (HU), 6-3
Daniil Ginzburg (DU) unfinished Leonardo Pires (HU), 6-0

Doubles
Volinovich & Akesson (HU) DEF Laalej & Ginzburg (DU), 6-4
Smith & Gawrit (HU) DEF Orhon & Ashok (DU), 6-2
Saavedra & Lakshmanan (DU) DEF Pires & Ferneda (HU), 6-0

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Men's tennis' Xabier Saavedra
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