DES MOINES, Iowa – On the strength of its 6-1 victory past Illinois State on Saturday (April 20) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center, the 27th-rated Drake men's tennis team gained at least a share of the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference regular season title, for the third year in a row.
The Bulldogs staked themselves to 1-0 advantage after senior Jean Erasmus (Windhoek, Namibia) and sophomore Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina) garnered the doubles point with a dramatic 9-8 (4) triumph over Muddappa Appanervanda and Alexander Pelaez on the No. 1 court.
Drake extended its lead to 3-0 in singles after victories by Salibasic and junior Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England) at the Nos. 2 and 3 positions, respectively.
Salibasic recorded a 6-4, 6-0 triumph versus Erik Brunskog at No. 2, before Goodman added his team-leading 35th singles win of the year, besting Jacob Wilson, 6-3, 6-3.
Netting the match-clinching tally at the No. 5 spot was sophomore Grant Tesmer (Lincoln, Neb.), who downed Michael Sellitto, 6-3, 6-0.
The Bulldogs also benefitted from victories by Erasmus and senior Ryan Drake (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) at the Nos. 4 and 6 positions, respectively.
Erasmus knocked off Rolando Torrellas, 7-5, 6-4, while Drake edged Appanervanda, 6-3, 7-5.
Drake goes in search of its third-consecutive outright MVC title when the Bulldogs host Bradley on Sunday (April 21) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center. Match time is slated for 11:00 a.m.
NO. 27 DRAKE (22-2, 4-0 MVC) DEF. ILLINOIS STATE (8-14 OVERALL, 1-3 MVC), 6-1
APRIL 20, 2013 • ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER
SINGLES:
No. 1 Alexander Pelaez (ILST) def. James McKie (DU), 6-2, 7-5
No. 2 Alen Salibasic (DU) def. Erik Brunskog (ILST), 6-4, 6-0
No. 3 No. 111 Robin Goodman (DU) def. Jacob Wilson (ILST), 6-3, 6-3
No. 4 Jean Erasmus (DU) def. Rolando Torrellas (ILST), 7-5, 6-4
No. 5 Grant Tesmer (DU) def. Michael Sellitto (ILST), 6-3, 6-0
No. 6 Ryan Drake (DU) def. Muddappa Appanervanda (ILST), 6-3, 7-5
Order of finish: 2,3,5,1,4,6
DOUBLES:
No. 1 Erasmus/Salibasic (DU) def. Appanervanda/Pelaez (ILST), 9-8 (4)
No. 2 Ben Lott/McKie (DU) def. Sellitto/Torrellas (ILST), 8-2
No. 3 Goodman/Ben Mullis (DU) def. Brunskog/Wilson (ILST), 9-7
Order of finish: 2,1,3
