Men's Tennis Drops Tight Contest at Drexel, 4-3

PHILADELPHIA – The first three singles flights went the Hawks' way on Thursday afternoon, but three straight singles wins and the critical doubles point gave Drexel a 4-3 win over the Saint Joseph's men's tennis team at Vidas Courts.

In doubles play, Kyle Chalmers and Andres Urrea took an 8-4 victory in the first flight, but Drexel came away with wins in the second and third flights, including a tiebreak in flight number three, to take the early 1-0 lead in the match.

The Hawks got back into the match right away in singles play, as Chalmers, Urrea, and Pierre Brondeau earned victories in the top three flights. Brondeau secured a point with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Badr Ouabdelmoumen in the first flight, while Chalmers was a 6-2, 6-3 winner in the second against Kashyap Ashok. Urrea rounded out the perfect start with a 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Xabier Saavedra in the third flight.

Unfortunately for SJU, the Dragons roared back to take each of the final three matches, including a three-set thriller in the sixth, to secure the match victory.

Saint Joseph's will look to rebound at home on Friday against George Mason before traveling to NJIT on Saturday.

Drexel 4, Saint Joseph's 3

Doubles

1. Kyle Chalmers / Andres Urrea (SJU) def. Alex Fioravante / Xabier Saavdera (DREX), 8-4

2. Kashyap Ashok / Dan Koehler (DREX) def. Peter Dewitt / Renier Moolman (SJU), 8-6

3. Daniel Hansen / Badr Ouabdelmoumen (DREX) def. Pierre Brondeau / Mike Fallone (SJU), 8-7 (6)

Singles

1. Brondeau (SJU) def. Ouabdelmoumen (DREX), 6-0, 6-1

2. Chalmers (SJU) def. Ashok (DREX), 6-2, 6-3

3. Urrea (SJU) def. Saavedra (DREX), 6-4, 6-1

4. Fioravante (DREX) def. Tristan Boustany (SJU), 7-6 (6), 7-5

5. Hamza Laalej (DREX) def. Kevin Gates (SJU), 6-3, 6-3