Women's Tennis Earns 6-1 Road Win over NJIT

Sunday, March 5

Newark, N.J.

2 p.m.

Drexel University

NJIT

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

3/5/2017 7:50:00 PM | Women's Tennis

NEWARK, N.J. – The Drexel women's tennis team came away with a 6-1 win over NJIT Sunday in Newark, while the Dragons' men outlasted the Highlanders, 4-3.

The women's team is now 12-3 on the year, while the men's team stands at 9-4 overall.

"I'm proud of both teams," head coach Mehdi Rhazali said. "We fought hard and played well in the pressure points. I'm happy with our progress."

Drexel's women had a much easier path to victory, downing the Highlanders, 6-1. Kendra Bunch and Ghita Benhadi teamed up for a 6-4 win at second doubles, while Honami Yazawa and Lea Winkler blew past their opponent in the third spot, 6-1. The Dragons cruised through singles play to put away the win. Yazawa earned a 7-6 (6), 6-2 win over Refaella Sampaio, while Bunch downed Mayar Eltony, 6-4, 6-3. Winkler then came away with a three-set, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 over Nathalie Habeggar, then Clary Rodriguez Cruz beat Alba Rosas Garcia in the fifth spot, 8-5. Ryshena Providence closed out the lineup with an 8-7 (6) win over Amanda Helminsky.

The men's team battled to win the doubles point, and carried the momentum over into singles to put the match away. Hamza Laalej and Youssef Lahlou fought to a 7-5 win at second doubles, while Alex Zenonos and Balaji Lakshmanan put it away with a 6-4 win at No. 3. In singles, the Dragons would just need to split the match to earn the win, which they did. Lakshmanan cruised past Jan Cimrman, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, while Sinan Orhon earned a 6-2, 6-3 win over Lukas Zvikas at third singles. In the sixth spot, Daniil Ginzburg put it away with a 6-3, 6-3 win.

Drexel's men return to action Wednesday night at Monmouth before hosting St. Peter's on Saturday at the Armory before break for final exams. The women's team is off from competition until March 26 against College of Charleston.

---

Women: Drexel 6, NJIT 1
Singles
Honami Yazawa (DU) DEF Rafaella Sampaio (NJIT), 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
Kendra Bunch (DU) DEF Mayar Eltony (NJIT), 6-4, 6-3
Natacha Minc (NJIT) DEF Ghita Benhadi (DU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Lea Winkler (DU) DEF Nathalie Habegger (NJIT), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Clary Rodriguez Cruz (DU) DEF Alba Rosas Garcia (NJIT), 8-5
Ryshena Providence (DU) DEF Amanda Helminsky (NJIT), 8-7 (8-6)

Doubles
Rafaella Sampaio/Mayar Eltony (NJIT) unfinished Ryshena Providence/C. Rodriguez Cruz (DU), 5-2
Kendra Bunch/Ghita Benhadi (DU) DEF Nathalie Habegger/Alba Rosas Garcia (NJIT), 6-4
Honami Yazawa/Lea Winkler (DU) DEF Natacha Minc/Amanda Helminsky (NJIT), 6-1

Men: Drexel 4, NJIT 3
Singles
Aleksa Petrovic (NJIT) DEF Hamza Laalej (DU), 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Balaji Lakshmanan (DU) DEF Jan Cimrman (NJIT), 6-2, 6-2
Sinan Orhon (DU) DEF Lukas Zvikas (NJIT), 6-2, 6-3
Zac Castagna (NJIT) DEF Alex Zenonos (DU), 6-4, 6-1
Richard Rangga (NJIT) DEF Youssef Lahlou (DU), 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3)
Daniil Ginzburg (DU) DEF Jot Sandhu (NJIT), 6-3, 6-3

Doubles
Aleksa Petrovic/Jan Cimrman (NJIT) unfinished Sinan Orhon/Kashyap Ashok (DU), 6-6 (4-2)
Hamza Laalej/Youssef Lahlou (DU) DEF Lukas Zvikas/Zac Castagna (NJIT), 7-5
Alex Zenonos/Balaji Lakshmanan (DU) DEF Richard Rangga/Jot Sandhu (NJIT), 6-4