CARBONDALE, ILL. - Capturing its fourth consecutive victory, the Drake men's tennis team dealt Southern Illinois its first home loss of the season as the Bulldogs registered a 4-2 triumph on Sunday (April 5).

Drake pushed its record over .500 for the initial time this spring at 10-9, including 3-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while the Salukis saw their ledger fall to 10-6 overall and 1-1 in league play.

“Southern Illinois hadn't lost at home this season and we knew coming in it would be a tough team to beat on the road so this was a big victory,” Drake head coach Chase Hodges commented.”  

Clinching that doubles point for the Bulldogs was the tandem of senior Ivan Mendoza (Wellington, New Zealand) and sophomore Mauricio Ballivian (Santa Cruz, Bolivia), who bettered Hugo Vidal and Sebastian Rubiano at the No. 2 position, 8-6.

Senior Maor Zirkin (Kibutz Hazor, Israel) opened singles play with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Lucas Waked at the top spot to extend the margin to 2-0.

Ballivian pushed the lead to 3-0 downing Felipe Villasenor, 6-2, 6-2, at the No 2 hole.

Junior Guilherme Marsiglia (Porto Alegre, Brazil) then sealed the victory for the Bulldogs registering a 6-2, 6-1 decision against Rubiano at the No. 5 slot.
 
With one three available indoor courts and travel considerations for Drake, the match at the No. 6 position was not contested.

The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday (April 11) as Drake hosts Bradley in an 11:00 a.m. match at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

DRAKE (10-9, 3-0 MVC) DEF. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (10-6, 1-1 MVC), 4-2
APRIL 5, 2009
CARBONDALE, ILL.

SINGLES:
No. 1 Maor Zirkin (DU) def. Lucas Waked (SIU), 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. Felipe Villasenor (SIU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Eric West (SIU) def. Cesar Bracho (DU), 7-5, 0-6, 6-4
No. 4 Hugo Vidal (SIU) def. Ivan Mendoza (DU), 3-6, 6-3, 10-2
No. 5 Guilherme Marsiglia (DU) def. Sebastian Rubiano (SIU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 6 Not contested
Order of finish (1,2,5,3,4)

DOUBLES:
No. 1 Zirkin/Bracho (DU) def. Waked/Anton Leonenko (SIU), 8-6
No. 2 Ballivian/Mendoza (DU) def. Vidal/Rubiano (SIU), 8-6
No. 3 Felipe Villasenor/Eric West (SIU) def. Lau/Evgeny Silitski (DU), 8-4
Order of finish (3,1,2)