Tennis Opens Spring Play at VCU 4-1 Tournament

Friday, January 19

Richmond, Va.

4 p.m.

Drexel University

Georgetown

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Tennis Opens Spring Play at VCU 4-1 Tournament

1/19/2018 6:16:00 PM | Men's Tennis

RICHMOND, Va. - The Drexel men's and women's tennis teams opened their spring seasons over the weekend when the Dragons took part in the VCU 4-1 Tournament. The men defeated Georgetown 3-2, on Friday while the women were taken down by the host VCU Rams, 4-1. On Saturday, the men were defeated by Campbell 3-2 while the women took down the Camels, 3-2. The men wrapped up the tournament with a 4-1 defeat at the hands of VCU.

The afternoon started with the women going up against the host Rams. Freshman Salma Ziouti continued her impressive rookie campaign with a singles victory over Kanako Yaho in the third singles position, 2-6, 6-1, 10-6. That marked the only victory of the day for the Dragons, as Ghita Benhadi, Kendra Bunch and Mya Fuentes were defeated in straight sets, as was the doubles team of Ryshena Providence and Clary Rodriguez Cruz.

The men saw more success in their first match of the spring, taking on Georgetown and emerging with a 3-2 victory. Balaji Lakshmanan (6-4, 6-3) and Youssef Lahlou (6-3, 6-3) won in singles play, while Bernard Tefel and Sinan Orhon claimed the deciding point in doubles with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

On Saturday morning, the men only managed one singles point, falling to Campbell 3-2 after winning the doubles. Lakshmanan won his match 6-1, 7-6 (4), 7-4 at the No. 2 singles spot, while Orhon and Tefel won 7-0, 7-6 (3) in doubles. The women followed, also against Campbell, and pulled out their first victory of the spring with a 3-2 decision. Ziouti (6-3, 0-6, 6-3), Bunch (6-2, 6-4) and Mya Fuentes (4-6, 6-2, 7-5) were victorious in singles play.

The men wrapped up the event with a 4-1 loss to VCU. The Dragons' only point came from doubles play, where Orhon and Tefel won 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

WOMEN'S RESULTS VS. VCU
1. Ghita Benhadi def. by Anna Rasmussen, 6-1, 6-0
2. Kendra Bunch def. by Paola Exposito Diaz Delgado, 6-3, 6-0
3. Salma Ziouti def. Kanako Yaho, 2-6, 6-1, 10-6
4. Mya Fuentes def. by Marina Alcaide Bakari, 6-3, 6-2

1. Ryshena Providence/Clary Rodriguez Cruz def. by Melissa Ifidzhen/Sofia Sualehe, 6-3, 6-2

MEN'S RESULTS VS. GEORGETOWN
1. Hamza Laalej def. by Mark Militzer, 7-5, 6-2
2. Balaji Lakshmanan def. Luke Ross, 6-4, 6-3
3. Sanil Jagtiani def. by Marco Lam, 6-3, 6-4
4. Youssef Lahlou def. Ian Witmer, 6-3, 6-3

1. Bernard Tefel/Sinan Orhon def. Charlie Sharton/Mac Rechan, 6-2, 6-4

MEN'S RESULTS VS. CAMPBELL
1. Hamza Laalej def. by Dustin Werner, 7-5, 7-6 (3)
2. Balaji Lakshmanan def. Gerard Sola, 6-1, 7-6 (4)
3. Sanil Jagtiani def. by Onrej Labik, 6-1, 7-5
4. Youssef Lahlou def. by Lorenz Schwab, 7-5, 6-4

1. Bernard Tefel/Sinan Orhon def. Fernando Clemonte/Louis Monterosso, 6-0, 7-6 (3)

WOMEN'S RESULTS VS. CAMPBELL
1. Ghita Benhadi def. by Alexandra Ardriuot, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6
2. Salma Ziouti def. Lou Regan, 6-3, 0-6, 6-3
3. Kendra Bunch def. Isobel Boada, 6-2, 6-4
4. Mya Fuentes def. Pauline Roustan, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5

1. Ryshena Providence/Clary Rodriguez Cruz def. by Ana Castillo/Georgina Segana, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3

MEN'S RESULTS VS. VCU
1. Hamza Laalej def. by Javier Amantegui, 6-2, 7-5
2. Balaji Lakshmanan def. by Arvid Noren, 6-4, 6-1
3. Youssef Lahlou def. by Timo Zgraggen, 7-5, 6-2
4. Sanil Jagtiani def. by Inigo Torre Martin,6-2, 6-3

1. Bernard Tefel/Sinan Orhon def. Vitor Lima/Philip Mobius, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4