Men's and Women's Tennis Split Matches Against Villanova

Saturday, February 17

Hecht/Hamlin Center

6 p.m.

Drexel University

Villanova

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Men's and Women's Tennis Split Matches Against Villanova

2/18/2018 9:48:00 AM | Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis

PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel men's and women's tennis teams each hosted matches against Villanova on Saturday evening with the women defeating the Wildcats 6-1 before the men fell to Villanova, 4-2. The women's victory was their sixth in the last seven matches for the Dragons in the midst of a three-match weekend that concludes Sunday against Stony Brook. Despite the loss on the men's side, the Dragons did have a highlight when Hamza Laalej won his match at No. 2 singles, 7-5, 6-4. It was the 55th singles match victory of Laalej's career, establishing a new Drexel program record.

The women won five of six singles matches in addition to the doubles point. Ghita Benhadi and Kenedra Bunch won 6-2 at the No. 1 doubles position, with Salma Ziouti and Clary Rodriguez Cruz - the reigning CAA Women's Doubles Team of the Week - handling business at No. 2, 6-4. The team of Ryshena Providence and Marta Martinez was up 4-3 at the No. 3 position when Drexel clinched the doubles point, so their match was left unfinished.

In singles play, Benhadi, Bunch, Ziouti, Anisiya Simpson and Providence all won, with the lone defeat coming at the No. 4 position where Rodriguez Cruz was edged in a tiebreak set, 2-6, 6-4, 6-10. Benhadi, Bunch and Ziouti all won their matches in straight sets.

The men swept the three doubles matches, leaving themselves in good position heading into singles play. However, Laalej's historic victory was the only one they could manage in that lineup. Laalej broke a tie with former teammate Badr Ouabdelmoumen, who went 54-37 during his career from 2011-15. Laalej is now 55-27 in singles play.

The Drexel women will get right back to work on Sunday morning when they head to Bethlehem, Pa. for a neutral site match against Stony Brook at 10 a.m. The men get back to work next Friday when they host Binghamton at the Hecht Hamlin Center at 6 p.m.

RESULTS
WOMEN
Doubles
Ghita Benhadi/Kendra Bunch def. Lindsey Evans/Victoria Martinez, 6-2
Salma Ziouti/Clary Rodriguez Cruz def. Lexi DeNucci/Kaylan Rotman, 6-4
Ryshena Providence/Marta Martinez vs. Paulina Bajet/Claudia Althans (DU led 4-3)

Singles
Ghita Benhadi def. Lexi DeNucci, 6-3, 6-2
Kendra Bunch def. Lindsey Evans, 6-1, 6-1
Salma Ziouti def. Alexandra Krogjus, 6-1, 6-1
Clary Rodriguez Cruz def. by Victoria Martinez, 2-6, 6-4, 6-10
Anisiya Simpson def. Carina Burdick, 4-6, 6-2, 10-8
Ryshena Providence def. Paulina Bajet 6-1, 4-6, 10-4

MEN
Doubles
Sanil Jagtiani/Balaji Lakshmanan def. Will Elmore/Tommy Mulflur 7-5
Hamza Laalej/Xandy Hammitt def. Thomas Dodson/Tyler Roth 6-3
Vuk Subotic/Youssef Lahlou def. Stefan Suarez/Mike Czlonka 7-5

Singles
Balaji Lakshmanan def. by Stefan Suarez, 5-7, 7-3, 7-6 (1)
Hamza Laalej def. Tyler Roth, 7-5, 6-4
Sanil Jagtiani def. by Dylan Flanagan, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (1)
Youssef Lahlou def. by Thomas Dodson, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
Xandy Hammitt vs. Tommy Mulflur (unfinished,, 6-3, 4-6, 2-2)
Vuk Subotic def. by Alistair Hurry, 6-4, 6-4