OMAHA, Neb. - The 48th-rated Drake men's tennis squad will play for the 2012 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference men's tennis title after the Bulldogs dispatched Illinois State, 4-0, on Saturday (April 28) in the semifinal round of the league championship.

Drake captured the doubles point behind victories at the Nos. 1 and 2 positions, with the tandem of juniors Anis Ghorbel (Sfax, Tunisia) and James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland) clinching the tally following an 8-3 triumph over Tuomas Manner and Alexander Pelaez at No. 1.

Freshman Ben Mullis (Leicestershire, England) extended the Bulldogs' lead in singles downing Jordan Badenko at No. 6, 6-0, 6-1.

Pushing Drake to within a point of victory at the No. 1 position was Ghorbel, who avenged a regular season setback to Pelaez with a 6-0, 6-4 triumph.

Turning in the match-clinching point was McKie, who defeated Manner at No. 2, 6-1, 6-2.

The Bulldogs will battle Wichita State in search of Drake's sixth NCAA Tournament appearance on Sunday (April 29).  Match time is slated for 1:30 p.m.

NO. 48 DRAKE (22-2) DEF. ILLINOIS STATE (9-14), 4-0

APRIL 28, 2012 • OMAHA, NEB.

SINGLES:

No. 1 Anis Ghorbel (DU) def. Alexander Pelaez (ILST), 6-0, 6-4

No. 2 James McKie (DU) def. Tuomas Manner (ILST), 6-1, 6-2

No. 3 Skip Span (ILST) led Jean Erasmus (DU), 5-4 unfinished

No. 4 Jonathan Hadash (DU) led Muddappa Appanervand (ILST), 6-1, 3-2

No. 5 Will Peter (ILST) led Alen Salibasic (DU), 6-4, 0-3 unfinished

No. 6 Ben Mullis (DU) def. Jordan Badenko (ILST), 6-0, 6-1

Order of finish: (6,1,2)

DOUBLES:

No. 1 Ghorbel/McKie (DU) def. Manner/Pelaez (ILST), 8-3

No. 2 Erasmus/Robin Goodman (DU) def. Appanervand/Peter (ILST), 8-1

No. 3 Cesar Bracho/Salibasic (DU) led Badenko/Jusso Ojanen (ILST), 7-2 unfinished

Order of finish: (1,2)