DES MOINES, Iowa - The 39th-ranked Drake men's tennis team saw its 37-match home-court winning streak snapped on Wednesday (March 12) as 30th-rated Oregon (13-1) edged the Bulldogs, 4-0, at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
The setback was the first for Drake (9-5) at home since dropping a 5-2 decision versus Wichita State on April 3, 2010. The last loss for the Bulldogs at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center against a non-conference foe occurred on Feb. 24, 2010, a 4-3 setback to Iowa.
The Ducks staked themselves to a 1-0 advantage claiming the doubles point with victories at the Nos. 1 and 3 doubles positions.
The No. 2 tandem of juniors Ben Mullis (Leicestershire, England) and Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina) were leading their match for Drake versus Dean Maasland and Joey Swaysland, 6-5, when the deciding tally was clinched.
In singles, Oregon captured decisions at the Nos. 2, 3 and 6 positions to earn the victory.
Singles play proved to be a closer battle than the final score indicated as the Bulldogs won the first set in three of the six contests. Salibasic was on the verge of garnering the triumph at No. 1 over Kevin Farin, leading 7-5, 5-4, including 40-15 in the final game, when the match was decided.
Winning first-set tiebreakers at the Nos. 4 and 5 positions, respectively, were juniors Matt Frost (Cambridge, England) and Ravi Patel (London, England).
Up next for the Bulldogs is a trip to Atlanta, Ga., to play No. 67 New Mexico and No. 71 Georgia State on Sunday (March 16). Match times are slated for 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CT, respectively.
NO. 30 OREGON (13-1) DEF. NO. 39 DRAKE (9-5), 4-0
MARCH 12, 2014 • ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER
SINGLES:
No. 1 Alen Salibasic (DU) leading Kevin Farin (UO), 7-5, 5-4 (40-15) unfinished
No. 2 No. 110 Robin Cambier (UO) def. Ben Lott (DU), 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 Dean Maasland (UO) def. Robin Goodman (DU), 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 Matt Frost (DU) leading Daniel Sardu (UO), 7-6 (4), 1-2 unfinished
No. 5 Ravi Patel (DU) leading Joey Swaysland (UO), 7-6 (3), 1-2 unfinished
No. 6 Jayson Amos (UO) def. Ben Mullis (DU), 6-3, 6-4
Order of Finish: 2,6,3
DOUBLES:
No. 1 Cambier/Farin (UO) def. Goodman/Lott (DU), 8-3
No. 2 Mullis/Salibasic (DU) leading Maasland/Swaysland (UO), 6-5 unfinished
No. 3 Amos/Sardu (UO) def. Frost/Patel (DU), 8-5
Order of Finish: 1,3
