Drake Crafts 7-0 Victory Over Western Illinois

DES MOINES, IOWA - With an efficient precision the Drake men's tennis team crafted a 7-0 victory over Western Illinois on Sunday (Feb. 28) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

"We looked good again today," Bulldog head coach Jimmy Borendame commented. "I would like to see us keep the momentum going for Chicago State. Individually, Jean (Erasmus) showed me he is a fighter and is displaying that he can make changes in his game in order to win."

The Bulldogs overpowered the Leathernecks in doubles play sweeping all three contests to assume a lead they didn't relinquish.

Improving to 8-2 in his last 10 singles matches, junior Mauricio Ballivian (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) quickly fended off Jeff Cote, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 1 to extend Drake's margin to 2-0.

Posting his fourth straight win at No. 2 was freshman James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland), who downed Mandela Shepard, 6-3, 6-0.

Senior Guilherme Marsiglia (Porto Alegre, Brazil) then sealed the triumph for the Bulldogs on the strength of a 6-3, 6-0 decision over Francisco Ortiz on the No. 3 court.

Rounding out the victory total for Drake was sophomores Cesar Bracho (Luque, Paraguay) and Jonathan Hadash (Lapid, Israel), along with freshman Jean Erasmus (Windhoek, Namibia) at the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 positions, respectively.

The Bulldogs will face Chicago State later on Sunday (Feb. 28) at 6:00 p.m. in their second match of the day.

DRAKE (4-4) DEF. WESTERN ILLINOIS (2-7), 7-0

FEB. 28, 2010 - DES MOINES, IOWA

ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER

SINGLES:

No. 1 Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. Jeff Cote (WIU), 6-1, 6-1

No. 2 James McKie (DU) def. Mandela Shepard (WIU), 6-3, 6-0

No. 3 Guilherme Marsiglia (DU) def. Francisco Ortiz (WIU), 6-3, 6-0

No. 4 Cesar Bracho (DU) def. Rodrigo Azevedo (WIU), 6-3, 6-2

No. 5 Jonathan Hadash (DU) def. Patrick Hammers (WIU), 7-5, 6-1

No. 6 Jean Erasmus (DU) def. Alejandro Buceta (WIU), 3-6, 6-2, 10-4

Order of finish (1,2,3,4,5,6)