PHILADELPHIA - The University of Pennsylvania (4-3) women's tennis team battled to a 5-2 win over crosstown rival Drexel at the Hecht Tennis Center on Friday. Penn improved their all-time mark against the Dragons to 13-0. The victory also puts the Quakers over .500 with a 4-3 record on the season and starts off a three-match weekend with a win.

Coming off a 1-2 showing at the ECAC Championships, the Quakers came out strong, looking to right the ship. In first doubles, Lina Qostal and Ashley Zhu made quick work of Drexel's duo of Kendra Bunch and Ghita Benhadi, taking the win 6-3. Marta Kowalska and Nicole Berkman won 6-4 on court three and Penn took the doubles point.

Kowalska delivered the first victory for the Quakers in singles, making her the lone Quaker with ten singles wins and ten doubles wins on the year. She won handily, 6-3, 6-1, in the four spot and OJ Singh delivered a victory in fifth singles. With Penn already leading 3-0, Qostal clinched in on court one with her 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over Benhadi for her tenth singles victory of the season. The Quakers dropped second singles and sixth singles before Zhu finished the match on a high note with a dramatic 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) win. 

Penn continues a busy weekend with Xavier and Hofstra on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. Those matches will both take place at the Hecht Tennis Center.

Penn 5, Drexel 2
Doubles
1. Lina Qostal/Ashley Zhu (Penn) def. Kendra Bunch/Ghita Benhadi (Drexel) 6-3
2. Jimena Rodriguez-Benito/OJ Signh (Penn) vs. Clary Rodriguez Cruz/Salman Ziouti (Drexel) DNF 5-4
3. Marta Kowalska/Nicole Berkman (Penn) def. Mya Fuentes/Ryshena Providence (Drexel) 6-4

Singles
1. Lina Qostal (Penn) def. Ghita Benhadi (Drexel) 6-3, 7-6(5)
2. Kendra Bunch (Drexel) def. Jimena Rodriguez-Benito (Penn) 6-4, 6-4
3. Ashley Zhu (Penn) def. Salman Ziouti (Drexel) 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(4)
4. Marta Kowalska (Penn) def. Clary Rodriguez Cruz (Drexel) 6-3, 6-1
5. OJ Singh (Penn) def. Mya Fuentes (Drexel) 6-3, 7-5
6. Anisaya Simpson (Drexel) def. Nicole Berkman (Penn) 7-5, 7-5

Order of Finish: Doubles (1,3) Singles (4,5,1,2,6,3)