April 21, 2005

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (April 21, 2005) - Eighth-seeded Drexel defeated #9 George Mason 4-0 on Thursday afternoon in first round action of the 2005 CAA Men's Tennis Championship at Huntington Park Tennis Center in Newport News, Va.

The Dragons and Patriots had a competitive battle in doubles, with Mason's Eric Vogel/Miles Hughes posting an 8-5 victory at number two and Drexel's Keith Juaniza/Kellen Thomas coming out on top at number three. The doubles point was decided on court one, where the Dragons' top squad of Walid El Jebbari/Ilya Tunic pulled out a 9-8 (7-4) triumph over the Patriots' Stephan Dufils/Tim Bainton.

In singles, Drexel posted three straight set victories to clinch the match. Thomas downed Hughes 6-0, 6-2 at number four, Pasquale Cardone beat Rob Santos 6-3, 6-0 at number five and Ayushya Wadhwan defeated Phu Le 6-1, 6-1 at number six.

Drexel advances to meet top-seeded Virginia Commonwealth in quarterfinal action at 11:30 a.m. on Friday.

2005 CAA MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
Huntington Park Tennis Center - Newport News, Va.
April 21, 2005 - First Round

#8 Drexel 4, #9 George Mason 0
Singles
#1 Walid El Jebbari (DU) vs. Stephen Dufils (Mason) - DNF
#2 Ilya Tunic (DU) vs. Tim Bainton (Mason) - DNF
#3 Keith Juaniza (DU) vs. Eric Vogel (Mason) - DNF
#4 Kellen Thomas (DU) d. Miles Hughes (Mason),  6-0, 6-2
#5 Pasquale Cardone (DU) d. Rob Santos (Mason), 6-3, 6-0
#6 Ayushya Wadhwan (DU) d. Phu Le (Mason), 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
#1 El Jebbari/Tunic (DU) d. Dufils/Bainton (Mason), 9-8 (4)
#2 Vogel/Hughes (Mason) d. Cardone/Wadhwan (DU), 8-5
#3 Juaniza/Thomas (DU) d. Le/Santos (Mason), 8-4