Dukes Derail Dragons 5-2 in CAA Road Match

Sunday, March 29

Philadelphia, Pa.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

Drexel

3/29/2015 5:44:00 PM | Men's Tennis

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – James Madison men's tennis defeated Drexel 5-2 in Colonial Athletic Association action at Vidas Courts on Sunday afternoon. The Dukes improved to 6-8 overall and 2-2 against CAA opponents while the Dragons dropped to 10-7 overall in their league opener.

Junior Robert Stirling and sophomore Brett Moorhead broke a 1-1 tie in doubles wins to clinch the opening point for the Dukes. The duo defeated Badr Ouabdelmoumen and Daniel Hansen in a tiebreaker (8-7(5)) at No. 3 doubles to give JMU a 2-1 edge and a 1-0 lead. The first doubles win for JMU came at the No. 1 position when sophomores Miljan Ruzic and Sebastian Salinas took down Alex Fioravante and Xabier Saavedra 8-2.

The Dragons quickly tied the match at 1-1 with a two-set victory at No. 5 singles when Hamza Laalej prevailed 6-4, 6-2 over freshman Stephen Goldman. JMU, however, picked up the next three singles wins to take the match.

JMU's winning stretch began with a two-set win (6-4, 6-2) by Salinas over Kashyap Ashok at No. 2 singles. Moorhead continued the streak with a two-set victory (7-5, 6-1) over Fioravante at No. 3 singles.

Junior Maxi Branth clinched match point for the Dukes with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Saavedra at No. 4 singles. After Drexel secured a point at the No. 6 position, Stirling closed the day with a win for the Dukes as he tallied a come-from-behind win (4-6, 6-1, 10-2) over Ouabdelmoumen at No. 1 singles.

The Dukes return home on Wednesday, April 1, for the start of a four-match home-stand. JMU welcomes Longwood to Hillside Courts in a rescheduled match at 3 p.m.

JMU 5, Drexel 2
Doubles
1. Miljan Ruzic/Sebastian Salinas (JMU) def. Alex Fioravante/Xabier Saavedra (DU) 8-2
2. Kashyap Ashok/Dan Koehler (DU) def. Alex Berdnikoff/Maxi Branth (JMU) 8-3
3. Robert Stirling/Brett Moorhead (JMU) def. Badr Ouabdelmoumen/Daniel Hansen (DU) 8-7(5)
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3*
Singles
1. Stirling (JMU) def. Ouabdelmoumen (DU) 4-6, 6-1, 10-2
2. Salinas (JMU) def. Ashok (DU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Moorhead (JMU) def. Fioravante (DU) 7-5, 6-1
4. Branth (JMU) def. Saavedra (DU) 7-5, 6-1
5. Hamza Laalej (DU) def. Stephen Goldman (JMU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Koehler (DU) def. Ruzic (JMU) 6-4, 7-5
Order of Finish: 5, 2, 3, 4*, 6, 1