DES MOINES, IOWA - On the strength of a 7-0 victory past Western Illinois on Sunday (March 6), the Drake men's tennis team extended its home winning streak at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center to eight straight matches.

The Bulldogs swept all three doubles contests with senior Mauricio Ballivian (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) and sophomore Anis Ghorbel (Sfax, Tunisia) securing the doubles point following the tandem's 8-4 decision over Jeff Cote and Patrick Hammers at the No. 1 position.

In singles, the advantage increased to 3-0 after victories at the Nos. 2 and 4 slots by sophomore James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland) and freshman Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England).

McKie earned the decision past Hammers at No. 2, 6-1, 6-2, while Goodman bested Mandela Shepard at No. 4, 6-1, 6-0.

Garnering the triumph for Drake on court No. 5 was junior Jonathan Hadash (Lapid, Israel), who defeated Capalbo, 6-0, 6-2.

The Bulldogs also collected victories at the Nos. 1, 3 and 6 slots, respectively, from Ballivian, Ghorbel and junior Sean O'Grady (Tempe, Ariz.).

Drake returns to action next Saturday (March 12) with a 9:00 a.m. contest at Saint Louis.

DRAKE (8-2) DEF. WESTERN ILLINOIS (2-7), 7-0

MARCH 6, 2011 • ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER

SINGLES:

No. 1 Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. Jeff Cote (WIU), 6-2, 7-6 (3)

No. 2 James McKie (DU) def. Patrick Hammers (WIU), 6-1, 6-2

No. 3 Anis Ghorbel (DU) def. Alejandro Buceta (WIU), 6-0, 6-3

No. 4 Robin Goodman (DU) def. Mandela Shepard (WIU), 6-1, 6-0

No. 5 Jonathan Hadash (DU) def. Jim Capalbo (WIU), 6-0, 6-2

No. 6 Sean O'Grady (DU) def. Ben Yue (WIU), 6-4, 6-1

Order of Finish: 4,2,5,3,6,1

DOUBLES:

No. 1 Ballivian/Ghorbel (DU) def. Cote/Hammers (WIU), 8-4

No. 2 Erasmus/McKie (DU) def. Buceta/Shepard (WIU), 8-4

No. 3 Ryan Drake/Goodman (DU) def. Capalbo/Yue (WIU), 8-4

Order of Finish: 2,1,3