MEMPHIS, TENN. - Persevering through five singles
matches that were extended to a deciding third set, the Drake men's tennis team
registered its fifth consecutive victory downing Memphis, 4-3, on Wednesday
(March 16).
"This was an
incredible effort by our guys," Bulldog head coach Evan Austin commented. "To come back from losing the doubles
point and all six first sets shows the toughness and resiliency we pride
ourselves on. Memphis has been as high as top 50 in the country this year and
we are going to take a great deal of confidence from this match."
The Tigers won the
doubles point, but not before the 72nd-rated tandem of senior Mauricio Ballivian (Santa
Cruz, Bolivia) and sophomore Anis Ghorbel (Sfax, Tunisia) downed Jordan Smith and David Henry
at No. 1, 8-5.
Ghorbel placed Drake
on the scoreboard first in singles, registering a 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 triumph over
Johnny Grimal at No. 4.
Memphis regained the
lead, 2-1, before the Bulldogs received back-to-back victories by Ballivian and
freshman Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England) to assume a 3-2 advantage.
Ballivian bested
David O'Hare at No. 1, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, before Goodman notched a 6-7 (5),
6-2, 6-3, win against Henry at No. 5.
Securing the deciding
point for Drake at No. 3 was sophomore Jean Erasmus (Windhoek, Namibia), who
defeated Leon Nasemann, 6-7 (11), 6-3, 6-4.
The Bulldogs conclude
their road swing at Murray State on Friday (March 18) with a 10:00 a.m. match.
DRAKE (11-2) DEF.
MEMPHIS (9-7), 4-3
MARCH 16, 2011 •
MEMPHIS, TENN.
SINGLES:
No. 1 Mauricio
Ballivian (DU) def. David O'Hare (MEM_), 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3
No. 2 Joe Salisbury
(MEM) def. James McKie (DU), 6-2, 7-6 (7)
No. 3 Jean Erasmus
(DU) def. Leon Nasemann (MEM), 6-7 (11), 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 Anis Ghorbel
(DU) def. Johnny Grimal (MEM), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
No. 5 Robin Goodman
(DU) def. David Henry (MEM), 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 Cedric De
Zutter (MEM) def. Jonathan Hadash (DU), 6-7 (7), 6-4, 2-2 retired
Order of Finish:
4,2,1,5,3,6
DOUBLES:
No. 1 No. 72
Ballivian/Ghorbel (DU) def. Jordan Smith/Henry (MEM), 8-5
No. 2
O'Hare/Salisbury (MEM) def. Erasmus/McKie (DU), 8-6
No. 3 Nasemann/Taylor
(MEM) def. Ryan Drake/Goodman (DU), 8-5
Order of Finish:
1,3,2
