OMAHA, NEB. - The Drake men's tennis team moved one step closer to its goal of capturing the Bulldogs' fourth consecutive State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship title registering a 4-1 victory over Illinois State in the semifinal round on Saturday (April 25).

Drake improved its ledger to 14-9 overall while ending the campaign for the Redbirds at 9-12.  The Bulldogs have advanced to the Sunday's (April 26) title match to battle Southern Illinois at 11:00 a.m. for the MVC's automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

"We didn't fully play up to our abilities this afternoon but we found a way to play well in key situations and earn the victory,” Bulldog head coach Chase Hodges commented.  “We are in the conference championship tomorrow with an NCAA bid on the line.  I'm proud of the guys today as I feel Illinois State gave us their best shot and we were still standing at the end.  I'm excited for the opportunity to four-peat tomorrow."

The two sides split the initial two doubles contests with Drake taking an 8-3 decision at No. 2 before falling on the No. 3 court, 8-4.  The duo of sophomore Mauricio Ballivian (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) and senior Ivan Mendoza (Wellington, New Zealand) defeated Micah LeMoine and Skip Span (ILS) at the second position.

The attention then shifted to the No. 1 court where the Bulldog tandem of senior Maor Zirkin (Kibutz Hazor, Israel) and freshman Cesar Bracho (Luque, Paraguay) clinched the doubles point with an 8-3 decision over Timon Reichelt and Michael Hobson.

The Redbirds squared the affair at one netting a triumph at the No. 4 singles slot, before Bracho put Drake ahead to stay on the strength of a 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory against Span.

The lead swelled to 3-1 following Ballivian's 6-2, 7-6 (4) win over Filip Miljevic on the No. 2 court.

Fittingly, punching Drake's card to the tournament final was Zirkin, who registered a come-from-behind 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 triumph against Reichelt at the top singles hole.

DRAKE (14-9) DEF. ILLINOIS STATE (9-12), 4-1
APRIL 25, 2009
OMAHA, NEB.

SINGLES:
No. 1 Maor Zirkin (DU) def. Timon Reichelt (ILS), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. Filip Miljevic (ILS), 6-2, 7-6 (4)
No. 3 Cesar Bracho (DU) def. Skip Span (ILS), 7-6 (5), 6-2
No. 4 Xavier Riart-Ferrer (ILS) def. Ivan Mendoza (DU), 6-2, 6-4
No. 5 Guilherme Marsiglia (DU) vs. Michael Hobson (ILS), unfinished
No. 6 Ricardo Lau (DU) vs. Micah LeMoine (ILS), unfinished
Order of finish (4,3,2,1)

DOUBLES:
No. 1 Zirkin/Bracho (DU) def. Reichelt/Hobson (ILS), 8-3
No. 2 Ballivian/Mendoza (DU) def. LeMoine/Span (ILS), 8-3
No. 3 Miljevic/Riart-Ferrer (ILS) def. Lau/Marsiglia (DU), 8-4
Order of finish (2,3,1)