DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University men's tennis team hosts the Drake Invitational on Friday through Sunday at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center to open the fall season. Also this weekend, senior Vinny Gillespie will be competing at the Oracle ITA Masters in Malibu, Calif. for the second-straight year.
 
The Bulldogs welcomes eight teams; Coe College, Creighton, Gustavus, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Northwest Missouri, Omaha and Tulsa.
 
Sixth-year head coach Davidson Kozlowski returns eight letter winners, which four will compete in the home event. Junior Tom Hands and sophomore Barny Thorold highlights the Flight 1 singles draw. Hands was a 2017 All-MVC selection, while posting a 18-6 dual match singles record and leading the team with 20 doubles wins. Thorold recorded six singles and doubles wins during his rookie season. Junior Ben Clark and senior Ben Wood are set to play in the Flight 2 singles draw. Clark, who was a 2017 All-MVC, recorded 13 singles wins and six doubles wins last year. Wood tallied a combined 26 doubles/singles wins.
 
Gillespie, who is ranked 52nd in the ITA Preseason Singles Ranking, was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year last season. He posted an 18-4 dual-match record at No. 1 singles. To go along with his All-MVC honor, Gillespie was named MVC Athlete of the Week five times.
 
Following this weekend of competition, the Bulldogs head to Tulsa, Okla. for the Saint Francis Health System ITA All-American Championships on Sept. 30.