WICHITA, Kan. – The Drake University men's tennis team claimed its 10th Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship when the Bulldogs defeated Wichita State, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon at the Genesis Health Club in Wichita, Kan.
 
Drake got out to a strong start by winning the doubles point. Bayo Philips and Barny Thorold earned a 6-3 victory at No. 1 doubles, while Ben Stride and Ben Wood secured the point with a 6-4 win at No. 3.
 
The Shockers managed to earn some momentum early in singles to take a 2-1 lead after winning at the No. 4 and No. 6 spots, respectively.
 
Junior Tom Hands tied the matchup at 2-2 with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Eddie Stoica at No. 5 singles.
 
No. 84 Vinny Gillespie then gave Drake a 3-2 advantage with is 7-5, 6-3 win over No. 92 Haru Inoue at No. 1.
 
The Shockers would tie the match up again, 3-3, with a straight sets victory at No. 2.
 
The decisive match point came down to a three-set match between Philips and WSU's Miroslav Herzan at No. 3. Philips cameaway with the first 6-3, but Herzan managed to claim the second set 6-3. Philips clinched the Bulldog victory and MVC regular season title with a dominating 6-2 third-set victory.
 
The Bulldogs end the regular season with a 15-11 overall record and a 3-0 MVC mark and will be the No. 1 seed in the MVC tournament which is set to get underway on April 28-30 in Normal, Ill.
 
Drake 4, Wichita State 3
4/15/2017 at Wichita, Kan.
(Genesis Health Club)
 
Singles competition
1. #84 Vinny Gillespie (DUM) def. #92 Haru Inoue (WSU) 7-5, 6-3
2. Marius Frosa (WSU) def. Ben Stride (DUM) 7-6 (8-6), 6-1
3. Bayo Philips (DUM) def. Miroslav Herzan (WSU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
4. Jocelyn Devilliers (WSU) def. Calum MacGeoch (DUM) 6-4, 6-1
5. Tom Hands (DUM) def. Eddie Stoica (WSU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Murkel Dellien (WSU) def. Barny Thorold (DUM) 6-0, 6-1
 
 Doubles competition
1. Bayo Philips/Barny Thorold (DUM) def. Jocelyn Devilliers/Eddie Stoica (WSU) 6-3
2. Haru Inoue/Miroslav Herzan (WSU) vs. Vinny Gillespie/Tom Hands (DUM) 4-5, unfinished
3. Ben Stride/Ben Wood (DUM) def. Murkel Dellien/Marius Frosa (WSU) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,6,5,1,2,3)