NEWARK, N.J. --- Despite its top two players having limited availability, the NJIT women's tennis team returned to the win column with a gutsy 4-3 victory over the visiting Drexel Dragons Saturday afternoon at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreational Facility.

Veteran players Shivani Ingle (both singles and doubles) and Joleta Budiman (singles) were not fully able to compete, with Budiman only able to contribute in doubles and NJIT only able to put out five players for singles. Despite this disadvantage, NJIT (6-3) was able to take 2-1 overall lead in the match after winning the doubles point with wins at Nos. 2 and 3 as well as Laura Wipfli taking No. 2 singles in straight sets.

A win at No. 1 singles for Drexel (5-7) would square the match at 2-2 before the Highlanders battled their way to win two of the final three open flights. 

NJIT's four-match Southland tour of New Orleans will begin on Tuesday, March 14 with a meeting against Northwestern State in Natchitoches, LA. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET

1. Lorie Lemongo (DREX) def. Sandra Dzhambazov (NJIT) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4

2. Laura Wipfli (NJIT) def. Renata Lombera (DREX) 6-3, 6-4

3. Shalom Salvi (NJIT) def. Isabel Cabrerizo (DREX) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

4. C. Corte Gonzalez (DREX) def. Irene Cocero (NJIT) 6-7, 6-3, 6-4

5. Pa. Menendez Alvarez (NJIT) def. Mya Fuentes (DREX) 2-6, 6-3, 3-0, retired

6. Aida Garcia Mendez (DREX) def. No player (NJIT), by default

1. Lorie Lemongo/Renata Lombera (DREX) def. Irene Cocero/Joleta Budiman (NJIT) 6-3

2. Laura Wipfli/Sandra Dzhambazov (NJIT) def. Mya Fuentes/C. Corte Gonzalez (DREX) 6-4

3. Pa. Menendez Alvarez/Shalom Salvi (NJIT) def. Isabel Cabrerizo/Aida Garcia Mendez (DREX) 6-1

Drexel 5-7

NJIT 6-3

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,1,3,4,5)