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