Men's Tennis Drops Tough Match Saturday at Colgate, 4-3

Saturday, February 11

Hamilton, N.Y.

3 p.m.

Drexel University

Colgate

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Men's Tennis Drops Tough Match Saturday at Colgate, 4-3

2/11/2017 9:23:00 PM | Men's Tennis

HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Drexel women's tennis team finished out its weekend on the road with a sweep of Colgate, 4-0, Saturday afternoon in Hamilton, N.Y., while the men's team fell, 4-3.

The sweep for the women's team comes less than 24 hours after the Dragons swept Binghamton in Vestal, N.Y., 7-0. Drexel's women's squad improves to 6-1 on the season. The men fall to 4-3.

The men's team battled hard, but ultimately could not pull out the one final singles match to swing the match in their favor. Drexel jumped out to the doubles point to secure the momentum heading into singles. Hamza Laalej and Youssef Lahlou teamed up for the win at No. 2, 6-3, while in the third spot Balaji Lakshmanan and Alex Zenonos were victorious, 6-3. In singles play, though, the Dragons could only come through in two matches. Laalej took his match in the top spot in three sets against Jake Hirschberg, 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-3. Lakshmanan then pulled away from Noah Rosenblat in three after dropping the first, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Drexel cruised to the doubles point as all three Dragon duos – Ghita Benhadi and Kendra Bunch, Ryshena Providence and Clary Rodriguez Cruz as well as Lea Winkler and Honami Yazawa – all earned 6-1 wins. With the point in hand, the Dragons breezed to three quick wins in the middle positions to secure the victory. Benhadi downed Hannah Fleckenstein, 6-1, 6-1, at the two spot, followed by Bunch sweeping her way past Lauren O'Brien, 6-0, 6-0. Winkler put it away at No. 4 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Jordan Williams.

The Dragons return home next weekend for a full slate of action, hosting UConn (women only) on Friday at Upper Dublin Sports Complex, Sacred Heart on Saturday at RiverWinds and Fairfield on Sunday at RiverWinds.

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Men: Colgate 4, Drexel 3
Singles
Hamza Laalej (DU) DEF Jake Hirschberg (COL, 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-3
Jacob Daugherty (COL) DEF Sinan Orhon (DU), 6-4, 6-2
Balaji Lakshmanan (DU) DEF Noah Rosenblat (COL), 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (3)
Bobby Alter (COL) DEF Youssef Lahlou (DU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Win Reynolds (COL) DEF Alex Zenonos (DU), 6-2, 6-4
Alec Dardis (COL) DEF Daniil Ginzburg (DU), 6-4, 6-4

Doubles
Ashok & Orhon (DU) unfinished Rosenblat & Alter (COL), 5-4
Laalej & Lahlou (DU) DEF Hirschberg & Reynolds (COL), 6-3
Lakshmanan & Zenonos (DU) DEF Daugherty & Koman (COL), 6-3

Women: Drexel 4, Colgate 0
Singles
Honami Yazawa (DU) unfinished Lauren Hyland (COL), 7-5, 1-0
Ghita Benhadi (DU) DEF Hannah Fleckenstein (COL), 6-1, 6-1
Kendra Bunch (DU) DEF Lauren O'Brien (COL), 6-0, 6-0
Lea Winkler (DU) DEF Jordan Williams (COL), 6-3, 6-1
Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU) unfinished Kaelin Brittin (COL), 1-0
Anisiya Simpson (DU) unplayed Kelly Klein (COL)

Doubles
Benhadi & Bunch (DU) DEF Hyland & Fleckenstein (COL), 6-1
Providence & Rodriguez Cruz (DU) DEF O'Brien & Williams (COL), 6-1
Winkler & Yazawa (DU) DEF Woodbury & Brittin (COL), 6-1