Men's Tennis Wraps Up Strong Day at Army Invitational

Saturday, September 30

West Point, N.Y.

All Day

Drexel University

Army Invitational

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Men's Tennis Wraps Up Strong Day at Army Invitational

10/1/2017 4:15:00 PM | Men's Tennis

WEST POINT, N.Y. - In a rain-shortened Army Invitational, the Drexel men's tennis team put up impressive results in a unique format that saw them play modified dual matches against Marist, St. Bonaventure and Army. None of the three matches could as official team results, but the Dragons nonetheless fared well throughout the afternoon at the United States Military Academy.

The day started this morning with the Dragons playing doubles matches against Marist. Playing in the No. 1 position, SInan Orhon and Bernard Tefel outlasted Justin Chanthalangsy and Gianlucca Massa, 7-5. Balaji Lakshmanan and Xandy Hammitt also got a 7-6 (5) win over Max Darrington and Lars Schouten out of the No. 3 doubles position to give the Dragons two wins in three doubles matches.

The Dragons also took on St. Bonaventure in doubles play, winning all three matches played. Orhon and Tefel handled Victor Blanco and Henry Martinez, 6-4, from the No. 1 position. Lakshmanan and Hammitt won by the same score at No. 3 over Indra Patwardhan and Joseph Blakeley, while Hamza Laalej and Youssef Lahlou rolled by Darrel Harxhi and Guillermo Garcia at No. 2 doubles, 6-2.

After the doubles round against the Bonnies, Drexel returned to action against Marist in singles play. The teams played seven singles matches, with the Dragons taking three - all three in the top six spots in the ladder. Laalej grinded out a three-set win from the No. 2 position, defeating Chanthalangsy 3-6, 6-3, 10-6. Orhon also won in singles, 7-5, 6-3 over Massa at No. 4, while Xandy Hammitt took down Paulo Siracusa at the No. 6 slot, 6-2, 6-1.

Finally, the Dragons took on the host Army Black Knights for seven singles matches, winning five. Laalej set the tone at the top of the singles ladder, winning 7-5, 6-2. Orhon, Lakshmanan, Hammitt and Lahlou were all also victorious in their matches against the Black Knights to cap off the impressive day for the Dragons.

Drexel returns to action next weekend at the Princeton Invitational, where they will compete Friday through Sunday in tournament action.

Drexel vs. Marist Doubles
1. Orhon/Tefel (DREX) def. Chanthalangsy/Massa (MAR), 7-5
2. Kurz/Gladden (MAR) def. Laalej/Lahlou (DREX), 6-4
3. Lakshmanan/Hammitt (DREX) def. Darrington/Schouten (MAR), 7-6 (5)

Drexel vs. St. Bonaventure Doubles
1. Orhon/Tefel (DREX) def. Blanco/Martinez (SBU), 6-4
2. Laalej/Lahlou (DREX) def. Harxhi/Garcia (SBU), 6-2
3. Lakshmanan/Hammitt (DREX) def. Patwardhan/Blakeley (SBU), 6-4

Drexel vs. Marist Singles
1. Rudy Kurz (MAR) def. Bernard Tefel (DREX), 6-2, 6-3
2. Hamza Laalej (DREX) def. Justin Chanthalangsy (MAR), 3-6, 6-3, 10-6
3. Lars Schouten (MAR) def. Balaji Lakshmanan (DREX), 6-0, 6-2
4. Sinan Orhon (DREX) def. Gianlucca Massa (MAR), 7-5, 6-3
5. Chrirstopher Gladden (MAR) def. Youssef Lahlou (DREX), 6-3, 4-6, 10-8
6. Xandy Hammitt (DREX) def. Paulo Siracusa (MAR), 6-2, 6-1
7. Carlos Moreno (MAR) def. Vuk Subotic (DREX), 6-3, 6-0.

Drexel vs. Army Singles
1. Hamza Laalej (DREX) def. Michael Nguyen (ARMY), 7-6, 6-2
2. David Mitchell (ARMY) def. Bernard Tefel (DREX), 3-6, 6-2, 10-7
3. Sinan Orhon (DREX) def. Dylan Simonsen (ARMY), 6-4, 7-6
4. Balaji Lakshmanan (DREX) def. Grant Patterson (ARMY), 6-4, 6-1
5. Xandy Hammit (DREX) def. Anant Mundra (ARMY), 7-5, 6-4
6. Youssef Lahlou (DREX) def. Daniel Zheng (ARMY), 6-2, 6-3
7. Will Ockerman (ARMY) def. Vuk Subotic (DREX), 7-5, 6-7, 10-7