Blue Hens Capture 7-0 Victory Over Mount St. Mary’s in Spring Opener

Monday, January 21

Wilmington, DE

12:00 PM

University of Delaware

Mount St. Mary's (Md.)

Freshman Luis Molina

Photo by: Mark Campbell

Blue Hens Capture 7-0 Victory Over Mount St. Mary’s in Spring Opener

1/21/2019 4:35:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

WILMINGTON, Del. – The Blue Hens came out strong in doubles play and the momentum carried through in Delaware's 7-0 triumph over Mount St. Mary's Monday afternoon in its spring lid-lifter at the brand-new Delcastle Tennis Center.

Junior Laurenz Lankes and sophomore Nathan Benyowitz led off with the 6-3 victory over Parth Sharma and Chris Lindsey in No. 2 doubles before freshmen James Wilkinson and Luis Molina topped Alonso Garcia and Gabriel Santos, 6-2, in the first flight.

Wilkinson and Molina continued solid play in No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively, as Wilkinson defeated Sharma, 6-1, 6-2, and Molina posted the 6-2, 6-2 decision over Garcia.

Sophomore Guilherme Valdoleiros followed with a 6-2, 6-2 No. 3 singles victory against Jean Armstrong while Lankes collected the same winning score over Lindsey in the fifth slot.

Senior co-captain Blaise Casselbury garnered his 30th career singles win by defeating Evan Hine, 6-2, 6-3, in the sixth spot.

Benyowitz concluded action with a hard-fought, come-from-behind 3-6, 6-1, 14-12 No. 4 decision versus Santos.

COMPLETE RESULTS
Doubles
    1.   James Wilkinson/Luis Molina (Delaware) def. Alonso Garcia/Gabriel Santos (MSM), 6-2
    2.   Laurenz Lankes/Nathan Benyowitz (Delaware) def. Parth Sharma/Chris Lindsey (MSM), 6-3
    3.   Jean Armstrong/Evan Hine (MSM) def. Blaise Casselbury/Guilherme Valdoleiros (Delaware), 6-3
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles
    1.   James Wilkinson (Delaware) def. Parth Sharma (MSM), 6-1, 6-2
    2.   Luis Molina (Delaware) def. Alonso Garcia (MSM), 6-2, 6-2
    3.   Guilherme Valdoleiros (Delaware) def. Jean Armstrong (MSM), 6-2, 6-2
    4.   Nathan Benyowitz (Delaware) def. Gabriel Santos (MSM), 3-6, 6-1, 14-12
    5.   Laurenz Lankes (Delaware) def. Chris Lindsey (MSM), 6-2, 6-2
    6.   Blaise Casselbury (Delaware) def. Evan Hine (MSM), 6-2, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 4

POST-MATCH QUOTES
Head Coach Pablo Montana
"This was a good win to start off the season. I thought we came out strong in doubles and we set the tone early by approaching early and returning aggressively on the break points. I was very impressed with how we came out in our singles play as we had great energy and momentum from the doubles. We immediately won the first set on the first three courts and the guys played big when they needed to. We will use this momentum and work hard this week to prepare for Villanova."

HEN SCRATCHINGS
     •   The Blue Hens have won their first match of the spring for the second straight season.
     •   Delaware has won two straight and is now 11-4 all-time in dual matches against Mount St. Mary's in NCAA Division I action.
     •   Laurenz Lankes and Nathan Benyowitz hold a career doubles record of 14-3.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
     •   Sunday, January 27 – Villanova at Delaware – 3 p.m. – DuPont Country Club (Wilmington, Del.)
     •   Sunday, February 3 – Concordia College at Delaware – Noon – Elkton Indoor Tennis (Elkton, Md.)
     •   Sunday, February 3 – Chestnut Hill at Delaware – 4 p.m. – Elkton Indoor Tennis (Elkton, Md.)

MEDIA CONTACT: Maggie Hayon, Assistant Athletics Communications Director | mhayon@udel.edu | O: 302-831-6389