VERONA, N.Y. – The Colgate men's tennis team stormed back Saturday afternoon after trailing early in their match against Drexel to defeat the Dragons, 4-3, at the Turning Stone Sportsplex.
 
After getting swept in doubles, the Raiders rallied to pick up the crucial victory over their Colonial Athletic Association opponent in the Dragons. Also with the victory, the Raiders senior class improves to 40-20 in dual matches.
 
Jacob Daugherty (Westport, Connecticut) knocked off Sinan Orhon at No. 2 doubles, 6-4, 6-2, and around the same time Win Reynolds (Houston, Texas) picked up a 6-1, 6-4 win over Alex Zenonos to give the Raiders a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Alec Dardis (Laguna Niguel, California) also picked up a straight set win over Drexel's Daniil Ginzburg, 6-4, 6-3, to give the Raiders a 3-1 lead in the match.
 
Colgate and Drexel battled for the match point with Drexel's Hamza Laalej and Balaji Lakshmanan winning at No. 1 and No. 3 singles to tie the match. Bobby Alter (Hinsdale, Illinois) sealed the win with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory at No. 4 singles to give the Raiders their second straight win to open up the season.
 
BOTTOM LINE
Colgate 4, Drexel 3
 
WON-LOST RECORDS
The Raiders improve to 2-0 this season with their second straight win while the Dragons fall to 4-3.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 – Orhon/Ashok (Drexel) vs. Rosenblat/Alter ('Gate): 5-4, dnf
No. 2 – Lahlou/Laalet (Drexel) def. Hirschberg/Reynolds ('Gate): 6-3
No. 3 – Lakshmanan/Zenonos (Drexel) def. Daugherty/Koman ('Gate): 6-3
 
SINGLES
No. 1 – Laalet (Drexel) def. Hirschberg ('Gate): 6-3, 6-7, 6-3
No. 2 – Daugherty ('Gate) def. Orhon (Drexel): 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 – Lakshmanan (Drexel) def. Rosenblat ('Gate): 4-6, 6-3, 7-6
No. 4 – Alter ('Gate) def. Lahlou (Drexel): 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
No. 5 – Reynolds ('Gate) def. Zenonos (Drexel): 6-1, 6-4
No. 6 – Dardis ('Gate) def. Ginsburg (Drexel): 6-4, 6-3
 
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Bobby Pennington
"After losing the doubles point, the men fought like warriors to win four out of six singles matches. This was arguably one of our bigger, most intense and competitive non-conference wins."
 
"Massive credit goes to Jacob Daugherty, Bobby Alter, Win Reynolds and Alec Dardis for closing it out clutch. Drexel is a quality CAA team that just beat Lehigh. It feels great to be 2-0 and 3 -0 will feel even sweeter!"
 
UP NEXT
The Raiders hit the road for their next two matches as they travel to Rochester to face the Yellow Jackets on Saturday afternoon before traveling to Fairleigh Dickinson to face the Knights Sunday at 1 p.m. in Teaneck, New Jersey.