WICHITA, KAN. - The Drake men's tennis team moved into the semifinals of the State Farm Missouri Valley Championship on the strength of its 4-1 quarterfinal triumph over Bradley on Friday (April 23).

The Bulldogs advance to face second-seeded and host Wichita State in a 2:00 p.m. tilt on Saturday (April 24).

"It was great to come out and set the tempo for the match today winning the doubles point and our effort carried over into a solid performance in singles," Bulldog head coach Jimmy Borendame commented.  "Now we need to get our minds focused on facing a very talented Wichita State team tomorrow in the semifinals."

Drake clinched the doubles point following an 8-6 decision by freshman Jean Erasmus (Windhoek, Namibia) and sophomore Jonathan Hadash (Lapid, Israel) over Milos Romic and Richard Robertson) at the No. 2 position.

The Braves evened the affair at one after Eric Nguyen's 6-2, 6-1 victory against freshman Ryan Drake (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) at No. 5.

Erasmus gave Drake the lead for good besting Callen Fraychineaud at No. 3, 6-4, 6-3.

Freshman James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland) extended the margin to 3-1 netting a 6-1, 7-5 win against Juan Diego Cuadrado at No. 2.

Clinching the match for the Bulldogs was Hadash, who bettered Brock Reiman, 6-1, 6-2 at No. 4.

DRAKE (15-8) DEF. BRADLEY (7-17), 4-1

APRIL 23, 2010 - WICHITA, KAN.

SINGLES:

No. 1 Mauricio Ballivian (DU) led Milos Romic (BU), 6-4, 2-1, unfinished

No. 2 James McKie (DU) def. Juan Diego Cuadrado (BU), 6-1, 7-5

No. 3 Jean Erasmus (DU) def. Callen Fraychineaud (BU), 6-4, 6-3

No. 4 Jonathan Hadash (DU) def. Brock Reiman (BU), 6-1, 6-2

No. 5 Eric Nguyen (BU) def. Ryan Drake (DU), 6-2, 6-1

No. 6 Ryan King (DU) vs. Richard Robertson (BU), 6-4, 6-7, unfinished

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

DOUBLES:

No. 1 Ballivian/McKie (DU) def. Fraychineaud/Reiman (BU), 8-4

No. 2 Erasmus/Hadash (DU) def. Romic/Robertson (BU), 8-6

No. 3 Cuadrado/Nguyen (BU) led Drake/King (DU), 7-6, unfinished

Order of finish (1,2)