Dukes Fall 4-2 to Drexel in CAA Men's Tennis Quarterfinals

Friday, April 20

Elon, N.C.

9 a.m.

James Madison University

Drexel

Dukes Fall 4-2 to Drexel in CAA Men's Tennis Quarterfinals

4/20/2018 12:36:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

ELON, N.C. – Despite taking wins at the top-two singles spots, fourth-seeded James Madison fell 4-2 to fifth-seeded Drexel in the quarterfinal round of the 2018 Colonial Athletic Association Men's Tennis Championship on Friday morning at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.

The Dukes ended the season with a 16-7 overall record, while the Dragons improved to 14-6 and advance to tomorrow's semifinal against top-ranked William & Mary.

DU took the early 1-0 lead after taking two of three doubles matches.

Drexel's Sanil Jagtiani and Balaji Lakshmanan won 6-2 at No. 2 against JMU freshman Alvaro Arce and junior Pierre Kohler for the early advantage. The team of freshman Gonzalo Adis and sophomore Damon Roberts dispatched DU's Xandy Hammitt and Hamza Laalej, 6-2, to even up doubles competition.

The Dragons won the doubles point with a 6-3 triumph at No. 1, as Sinan Orhon and Bernard Tefel rallied past senior Theophile Lanthiez and sophomore Paul Mendoza by winning four straight games.

In singles, JMU quickly tied the match at 1-1 after Arce blanked Lakshmanan (6-0, 6-0) at No. 2. Mendoza gave the Dukes a 2-1 advantage after claiming a straight-set victory against Laalej (6-2, 6-3) at the No. 1 spot. Roberts fell to Jagtiani in straight sets (6-7, 3-6) at No. 4 singles to square the match at 2-2.

Adis took the opening set at No. 6, but eventually fell in three sets (7-5, 3-6, 3-6) to Youssef Lahlou, giving the Dragons a 3-2 lead. In another three-set match, DU secured the quarterfinal victory at No. 3, as Lanthiez dropped his final outing against Orhon (2-6, 6-1, 3-6).

QUOTING COACH SECORD
"Obviously we're disappointed. We hadn't had a first-round win in a while and I thought this was our year," Head Coach Steve Secord said. "This loss isn't going to take away from the great year we had. We have a good core group coming back next year. Not getting the doubles point after having a great year of getting the doubles point was a little tough to swallow, but I thought the guys rebounded. We fought to the bitter end, so I'm proud of this group."

FINAL RESULTS
Singles
No. 1 – Paul Mendoza (JMU) def. Hamza Laalej (DU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 – Alvaro Arce (JMU) def. Balaji Lakshmanan (DU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 – Sinan Orhon (DU) def. Theophile Lanthiez (JMU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
No. 4 – Sanil Jagtiani (DU) def. Damon Roberts (JMU) 7-6, 6-3
No. 5 – Pierre Kohler (JMU) vs. Bernard Tefel (DU) 6-7, 6-6, unfinished
No. 6 – Youssef Lahlou (DU) def. Ganzalo Adis (JMU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3

Order of finish: 2,1,4,6,3

Doubles
No. 1 – Orhon/Tefel (DU) def. Lanthiez/Mendoza (JMU) 6-3
No. 2 – Jagtiani/Lakshmanan (DU) def. Arce/Kohler (JMU) 6-2
No. 3 – Adis/Roberts (JMU) def. Hammitt/Laalej (DU) 6-2

Order of finish: 2,3,1