JANUARY 28, 2012

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In a match that last over four hours, the Drake men's tennis team grinded out a 4-1 victory over Denver on Saturday (Jan. 28) at the Harvard Kick-Off Invitational.

The 67th-ranked Bulldogs claimed the doubles point on the strength of an 8-6 decision by senior Cesar Bracho (Luque, Paraguay) and freshman Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina) over Fabio Biasion and Max Krammer at the No. 2 position.

Drake extended the lead to 3-0 following victories at the Nos. 4 and 6 singles courts from sophomore Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England) and senior Jonathan Hadash (Lapid, Israel).

Goodman bested Othar Kordsachia, 6-3, 6-2, while Hadash downed Luke Manley, 6-4, 6-1.

The Pioneers spoiled the Bulldogs' shutout bid as Jens Vorkefeld edged junior James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland) at No. 2, 6-3, 6-3.

Clinching his second match of the tournament was freshman Ben Mullis (Leicestershire, England), who dispatched of Krammer on court No. 5, 7-5, 6-4.

Drake returns to action on Saturday (Feb. 4) as the Bulldogs open their home campaign hosting Western Illinois and Chicago State. Match times at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center are slated for 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively.

NO. 67 DRAKE (2-1) DEF. DENVER (2-3), 4-1

HARVARD KICK-OFF INVITATIONAL

JANUARY 28, 2012 • CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

SINGLES

No. 1 No. 51 Anis Ghorbel leading Yannick Weihs (DEN), 7-6, 6-7, 3-1 did not finish

No. 2 Jens Vorkefeld (DEN) def. James McKie (DU), 6-3, 6-3

No. 3 Fabio Biasion (DEN) leading Alen Salibasic (DU), 7-5, 3-6, 5-2 did not finish

No. 4 Robin Goodman (DU) def. Othar Kordsachia (DEN), 6-3, 6-2

No. 5 Ben Mullis (DU) def. Max Krammer (DEN), 7-5, 6-4

No. 6 Jonathan Hadash (DU) def. Luke Manley (DEN), 6-4, 6-1

Order of finish: (4,6,2,5)

DOUBLES

No. 1 Ghorbel/McKie (DU) def. Kordsachia/Weihs (DEN), 8-5

No. 2 Cesar Bracho/Salibasic (DU) def. Biasion/Krammer (DEN), 8-6

No. 3 Goodman/Mullis (DU) leading Manley/Vorkefeld (DEN), 6-5 did not finish

Order of finish: (1,2)