Coming down to the final doubles match, the Saint Joseph's women's tennis team battled a strong Drexel squad point for point on Wednesday at the SJU Tennis Complex. In a highly-competitive match at the third doubles flight, the Dragons eventually prevailed, 7-6 (5) to earn the doubles point for the 4-3 win.

Opening with singles play, the two squads split the six matches. Saint Joseph's freshman Amanda Nava was a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 victor at the top flight over Ghita Benhadi, while junior Isis Gill-Reid posted a 7-5, 6-4 win over Rysehna Providence at the third flight. Rookie Lourdes Sprinckmoller capped the singles wins for SJU with a 6-4, 6-2 decision over Anisiya Simpson at the fifth flight.

In doubles play, Drexel captured the first flight, but the Hawks pulled even as Laura Gomez and Sprinckmoller topped Clary Rodriguez Cruz and Salma Ziouti, 6-4, at the second flight.

With the final point coming down to the third doubles flight, SJU's Maureen Devlin and Katherine Devlin pushed Drexel's Mya Fuentes and Rysehna Providence to the limit. Going to the tiebreaker, the Dragons' pair would prevail, 7-6 (5), to give their squad the win.

"What an outstanding performance by our Hawks as they pushed highly-favored Drexel to the proverbial limit," said SJU head coach Ian Crookenden. "After splitting singles first, the doubles point was finally won by a 7-6 tiebreaker. Nobody should hang their head today it was a fantastic battle."

The Hawks (3-13) are back in action against Richmond on Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the SJU Tennis Complex.

Drexel 4, SJU 3
Doubles
1. Ghita Benhadi/Kendra Bucnh (Drexel) def. Amanda Nava / Isis Gill-Reid (SJU), 6-3
2. Laura Gomez / Lourdes Sprinckmoller (SJU) def. Clary Rodriguez Cruz/Salma Ziouti (Drexel) 6-4
3. Mya Fuentes/Rysehna Providence (Drexel) def. Maureen Devlin / Katherine Devlin (SJU), 7-6 (5)

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