Men' Tennis Drops Tight Match to Drexel, 4-3

MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team dropped a tight contest to Drexel on Wednesday, falling by a 4-3 score at the SJU Tennis Complex. The Hawks and Dragons split the six singles flights, but the Dragons won the doubles point to take the victory.

In doubles play, senior Andres Urrea and junior Kyle Chalmers were 6-4 winners in the first flight, but Drexel came away with wins in both the second and third flights to grab the early lead.

The pair earned singles victories as well, with Urrea outlasting Drexel's Xabier Saavedra, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5, in the first flight, and Chalmers dismissing Andrew Sinai, 6-4, 6-2, in the second.

Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, the Dragons took the fourth flight in straight sets before clinching the match victory with three-set triumphs in the third and fifth flights.

Sophomore Peter Dewitt wrapped up the afternoon with a 6-2, 6-0 trouncing of Daniil Ginzburg in the sixth flight.

“It was an exciting match, down to the wire in singles play,” head coach Ian Crookenden said. “The first two doubles matches were a split pair before Drexel pulled out the victory. It was as close and competitive as any match can be.”

The Hawks will hit the road for a pair of conference matchups in Virginia. Saint Joseph's will take on Richmond on Saturday before meeting George Mason on Sunday.

Drexel 4, Saint Joseph's 3

Doubles

1. Kyle Chalmers / Andres Urrea (SJU) def. Daniil Ginzburg / Hamza Laalej (DU), 6-4

2. Kashyap Ashok / Sinan Orhon (DU) def. Tristan Boustany / Kevin Gates (SJU), 7-5

3. Balaji Lakshmanan / Xabier Saavedra (DU) def. Peter Dewitt / Dan Tan (SJU), 6-4

Singles

1. Urrea (SJU) def. Saavedra (DU), 2-6, 6-2, 7-5

2. Chalmers (SJU) def. Andrew Sinai (DU), 6-4, 6-2

3. Laalej (DU) def. Boustany (SJU), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4

4. Orhon (DU) def. Andre Fick (SJU), 6-1, 6-1

5. Lakshmanan (DU) def. Gates (SJU), 3-6, 6-4, 7-5

6. Dewitt (SJU) def. Ginzburg (DU), 6-2, 6-0