JANUARY 21, 2012

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake men's tennis team is in line to play for as many as nine titles after registering a 12-3 combined singles/doubles ledger in second-day action at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Individuals on Saturday (Jan. 21) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

In spite of earning splits in their round-robin matches at the top two doubles positions, all three of the Bulldogs' doubles teams moved into the main draw, which will be contested on Sunday (Jan. 22).

The duo of junior Anis Ghorbel (Sfax, Tunisia) and senior Cesar Bracho (Luque, Paraguay) posted a pair of triumphs at the No. 3 position to lead Drake's doubles contingent.

Heading the effort in singles action was Ghorbel, the 51st-rated player in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, who downed Badr Cheradi of Southern Illinois, 6-3, 6-3, to advance to Sunday's title tilt against Alex Pelaez of Illinois State.

Upended by Bradley's Arthur Romanet in the No. 7 main draw, 6-2, 6-4, was senior Sean O'Grady (Tempe, Ariz.), while Bracho and freshman Grant Tesmer (Lincoln, Neb.) crafted triumphs in consolation action of the No. 7 flight.

After earning the No. 3 singles crown a year ago, junior Jean Erasmus (Windhoek, Namibia) is set to play for the title at No. 2 after dispatching of Southern Illinois' Stan Rodier, 7-6, 4-6, 6-2.

Moving into the final at No. 3 is junior James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland), who bested Erick Reyes of Wichita State, 6-2, 6-3.

Freshman Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina) advanced to his first-ever MVC Individual's title match after garnering a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Jordan Badenko of Illinois State at No. 4.

Sophomore Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England) was equally impressive at No. 5 netting a 6-2, 6-3 triumph against Juan Estenssoro of Wichita State.

Senior Jonathan Hadash (Lapid, Israel) rounded out the victory total collecting a 6-1, 6-2 win versus Nester Perez of Wichita State at No. 6.

Action concludes at the State Farm MVC Individuals on Sunday (Jan. 22) with doubles play commencing at 9:00 a.m. at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

The Bulldogs celebrated the birthday of Irene Knapp between singles and doubles competition on Saturday as the Drake players and coaching staff presented her a birthday cake.

STATE FARM MVC INDIVIDUALS

JANUARY 21, 2012 • ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER

SINGLES

No. 1 No. 51 Anis Ghorbel def. Badr Cherradi (SIU), 6-3, 6-3

No. 2 Jean Erasmus (DU) def. Stan Rodier (SIU), 7-6, 4-6, 6-2

No. 3 James McKie (DU) def. Erick Reyes (WSU), 6-2, 6-3

No. 4 Alen Salibasic (DU) def. Jordan Badenko (ILST), 6-2, 6-2

No. 5 Robin Goodman (DU) def. Juan Estenssoro (WSU), 6-2, 6-3

No. 6 Jonathan Hadash (DU) def. Eric Nguyen (BU), 6-1, 6-2

No. 7 Cesar Bracho (DU) def. Syzmon Opieczonek (SIU), 6-4, 6-1

No. 7 Grant Tesmer (DU) def. Sean Mathison (CU), 6-1, 6-4

No. 7 Arthur Romanet (BU) def. Sean O'Grady (DU), 6-2, 6-4

DOUBLES

No. 1 Tuomas Manner/Alex Pelaez (ILST) def. Erasmus/McKie (DU), 8-4

No. 1 Erasmus/McKie (DU) def. Billy Paluch/JT Christian (CU), 8-4

No. 2 Tomislav Gregurovic/ Reyes (WSU) def. Goodman/Salibasic (DU), 9-8 (6)

No. 2 Goodman/Salibasic (DU) def. Badenko/Willi Peter (ILST), 8-4

No. 3 Bracho/Ghorbel (DU) def. Elliott Baker/Gabe Nagy (CU), 9-7

No. 3 Bracho/Ghorbel (DU) def. Ahmed Albitar/Ashton Kalhorn (BU), 8-3