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Drexel 4, Delaware 3
April 8, 2003

Dragons End 41-Year Drought vs. Hens

PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Delaware men's and women's tennis teams extended one streak and had a longer one stopped Tuesday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association matches vs. host Drexel.

The Blue Hen women posted their second shutout of the season with a 7-0 victory while the Drexel men downed Delaware 4-3 in a tightly-fought contest.

The Delaware women (5-8, 2-0 CAA), who had a two-match losing streak snapped, defeated the Dragons for the 11th straight time and are now 19-2 all-time vs. Drexel.

On the men's side, the longest win streak vs. an opponent by any Delaware team in any sport was snapped as Drexel defeated the Blue Hens (9-11, 2-3) for the first time since 1962 after 41 straight losses. Delaware also lost its third straight match this season.

The Delaware women won all nine matches as they swept the six singles and earned the doubles point with the sweep. Earning singles victories for the Hens were Jessica Wilkes at No. 1, Christine Knox at No. 2, Jen Lamberton at No. 3, Beth Principe at No. 4, Stefanie Riddle at No. 5, and Julia Shapiro at No. 6.

Wilkes improved to 12-5 on the season with her fifth straight win and improved to 47-29 all-time in singles play at Delaware, good for seventh all-time in UD history. She needs just one more win to tie Lisa Fry (48-24 in 1993-97) for sixth place all-time at Delaware.

On the men's side, three of the six singles matches went into three sets or included tie breakers. Delaware got victories from Robert Wirth at No. 3, Adam Liebman at No. 5, and Josh Ditman at No. 6. Ditman improved to 11-5 on the season.

The Dragons clinched the win in doubles as they earned the doubles point by sweeping all three matches by 8-4 scores.

Both Delaware teams return to action today (Wednesday) when they host CAA foe Towson at 3 p.m.

AGATE:

Men: Drexel def. Delaware, 4-3

Singles: Reda Akbil, DRX, def. John Tully, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5); Walid El Jebbari, DRX, def. Sanjay Khindri, 7-5, 6-3; Robert Wirth, DEL, def. John Dinan, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Scott Nagao, DRX, def. Dustin Lewis, 6-2, 6-1; Adam Liebman, DEL, def. Nevzat Cubukcu, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-2; Josh Ditman, DEL, def. Mike Leibowitz, 7-5, 7-5.

Doubles: Akbil-Dinan, DRX, def. Tully-Wirth, 8-4; El Jabberi-Cubukcu, DRX, def. Kindri-Ditman, 8-4; Nagao-Leibowitz, DRX, def. Patrick Seitz-Ari Zweig, 8-4.

Women: Delaware def. Drexel, 7-0

Singles: Jessica Wilkes, DEL, def. Meryem Chaoui, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4); Christine Knox, DEL, def. Lyn Pigliacampi, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2; Jen Lamberton, DEL, def. Brandy Tricker, 6-2, 6-2; Beth Principe, DEL, def. Michelle Septak, 6-3, 6-1; Stefanie Riddle, DEL, def. Jennifer Rimmey, 6-0, 6-2; Julia Shapiro, DEL, def. Beth Childs, 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles: Wilkes-Principe, DEL, def. Chaoui-Pigliacampi, 8-5; Knox-Lamberton, DEL, def. Tricker-Septak, 8-5; Katie Heath-Katie Miller, DEL, def. Rimmey-Childs, 8-3.

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