Delaware Drops 4-3 Heartbreaker to Villanova

Sunday, January 27

Wilmington, DE

3:00 PM

University of Delaware

Villanova

Freshman James Wilkinson

Photo by: Mark Campbell

1/27/2019 10:23:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

WILMINGTON, Del. – It came down to the very last set and in the end, Villanova was able to pull out the 4-3 victory over Delaware Sunday afternoon at DuPont Country Club.

The Wildcats (1-0) picked up the team doubles point and went up 2-0 before freshmen James Wilkinson and Luis Molina knotted things up for the Blue Hens (1-1) in singles play.

Wilkinson topped Stefan Suarez, 6-1, 6-4, in top flight singles while Molina came from behind with the 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3 win over Tommy Dodson in the second flight.

Villanova took the 3-2 advantage before junior Laurenz Lankes captured the 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 victory against Tommy Mulfur in No. 6 singles to tie the match once again.

Sophomore Guilherme Valdoleiros pushed things to three sets in No. 4 singles, but Dylan Flanagan collected the 6-4, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5) win to clinch the team victory.

COMPLETE RESULTS
Doubles
     1.   Tyler Roth/Tommy Dodson (VU) def. James Wilkinson/Luis Molina (UD), 6-3
     2.   Stefan Suarez/Tommy Mulfur (VU) def. Laurenz Lankes/Nathan Benyowitz (UD), 6-3
     3.   Justice Jones/Guilherme Valdoleiros (UD) def. Dylan Flanagan/Charles Schuls (VU), 6-3
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles
     1.   James Wilkinson (UD) def. Stefan Suarez (VU), 6-1, 6-4
     2.   Luis Molina (UD) def. Tommy Dodson (VU), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3
     3.   Tyler Roth (VU) def. Justice Jones (UD), 6-1, 6-2
     4.   Dylan Flanagan (VU) def. Guilherme Valdoleiros (UD), 6-4, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5)
     5.   Charles Schuls (VU) def. Nathan Benyowitz (UD), 7-6, 7-6
     6.   Laurenz Lankes (UD) def. Tommy Mulfur (VU), 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2, 5, 6, 4

POST-MATCH QUOTES
Head Coach Pablo Montana
"We played a good Villanova team today. We came out a little flat in the doubles and they immediately took the momentum from us but we were able to bounce back in singles fairly quickly. We kept going back-and-forth with wins and losses until it finally came down to the final match at number four singles and it was a well fought match between both players and we came up a little short in the end. I'm very proud of my guys for the way they battled and competed and hats off to Villanova for playing better than us on the bigger points. Congratulations to James, Luis and Laurenz for winning their singles matches and keeping us in the match."

HEN SCRATCHINGS
     •   James Wilkinson, Luis Molina and Laurenz Lankes are each 2-0 in dual matches this season.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
     •   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.)
     •   Sunday, February 10 – Monmouth at Delaware – Noon – Elkton Indoor Tennis (Elkton, Md.)

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