DES MOINES, IOWA - Setting the stage to play for its second consecutive Missouri Valley Conference regular season title, the Drake men's tennis team notched its 43rd straight regular season triumph with a 6-1 victory over Indiana State on Sunday (April 13) at the Drake Tennis Center.
The Bulldogs host Wichita State on Friday (April 18) at 2:00 p.m. with the winner garnering the MVC title and the top seed at the State Farm MVC Championships (April 25-27). Drake enters the affair at 21-0, including 5-0 in league play after downing the Sycamores, while Indiana State fell to 8-12 overall and 2-2 in MVC action after the setback.
“It was a big win for us today to set up a huge match with Wichita State on Friday for the MVC title,” Bulldog head coach Chase Hodges said. “The guys did a good job staying focused on the task at hand. I've been very impressed with doubles play as it has been outstanding in our success.”
The win marked the 46th straight at home for the Blue and White, the second-best streak in the nation.
The Bulldogs swept all three doubles matches en route to claiming a 1-0 advantage entering singles play. Clinching the doubles point with their ninth straight victory was the tandem of junior Ivan Mendoza (Wellington, New Zealand) and freshman Mauricio Ballivian (Santa Cruz, Bolivia), who netted an 8-4 decision over Joshua Smith and Jon Sigurdsson at the No. 2 position.
Adding his 201st and 202nd career victories was senior Dalibor Pavic (Adelaide, Australia), who improved to a 34-4 on the year in singles with his 6-4, 7-6 (5) win against Anton Tsymbalov at the top slot. Pavic is four victories shy of equaling Robert Novotny's school-record 206 wins.
Adding their 21, 12 and 10 straight singles victories, respectively were sophomore Bokang Setshogo (Gaborone, Botswana), Ballivian and Mendoza.
Mendoza gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead on the strength of a 6-0, 6-1 decision versus Michael Wenham at the No. 6 hole.
Setshogo provided Drake with its third point in the affair bettering Sigurdsson, 7-6 (5), 6-3 at No. 5.
Sealing the victory for the Bulldogs was Ballivian, who downed Smith at No. 4, 6-4, 6-4.
Junior Maor Zirkin (KIbutz Hazor, Israel) completed the victory total with a 6-2, 7-5 triumph against Rishi Behl at the second singles hole.
No. 43 Drake def. Indiana State, 6-1
Drake Tennis Center ? April 13, 2008
Records: Drake (21-0, 5-0 MVC), Indiana State (8-12, 2-2 MVC)
Singles:
No. 1 No. 68 Dalibor Pavic (DU) def. Anton Tsymbalov (INS), 6-4, 7-6 (5)
No. 2 Maor Zirkin (DU) def. Rishi Behl (INS), 6-2, 7-5
No. 3 Mpiloenhle Migogo (INS) def. Ricardo Lau (DU), 6-2, 2-6, 10-6
No. 4 Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. Joshua Smith (INS), 6-4, 6-4
No. 5 Bokang Setshogo (DU) def. Jon Sigurdsson (INS), 7-6 (5), 6-3
No. 6 Ivan Mendoza (DU) def. Michael Wenham (INS), 6-0, 6-1
Doubles:
No. 1 Pavic/Zirkin def. Migogo/Behl (INS), 8-5
No. 2 Ballivian/Mendoza (DU) def. Smith/Sigurdsson (INS), 8-4
No. 3 Setshogo/Lau (DU) def. Wenham/Tsymbalov (INS), 8-1
