TULSA, Okla. – The Drake University men's tennis team secured its third-straight NCAA berth with a thrilling 4-3 win over Denver in the Summit League Championship match Saturday afternoon at Tulsa' Bernis Duke Tennis Center.
 
The Bulldogs successfully defended their Summit League title against the top-seeded Pioneers to win their second Summit League championship in as many years in a match that required a third-set tiebreaker in the final match.
 
Fortunately for the Bulldogs, Tom Hands clinch the title by winning a hard-fought 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) match at the No. 2 spot to take the crown.

Denver took a 1-0 advantage after winning two hard-fought doubles matches. Denver's Mattia Ros and Pedro Fernandez Del Valle took the first doubles match after defeating Drake's Tom Hands and Bayo Philips 6-2 in the No. 2 spot.  Drake answered back at the No. 3 spot with a 7-5 victory by Calum MacGeoch and Ben Clark over Denver's Eric Morris and Daniel Krulig. The Pioneers clinched the doubles point after Matt Summers and James Davis beat Vinny Gillespie and Barny Thorold 7-5 in the top spot. 
 
The Bulldogs went on to take a 2-1 lead after Gillespie took a 6-2, 6-2 victory at the top spot and MacGeoch captured a 6-4, 6-4 win at the No. 4 spot. The Pioneers fought back and tied it up 2-2 with a win at the No. 3 spot, but a win from Drake's No. 6 Clark pushed the lead 3-2 back in favor of the Bulldogs.

Denver tied it back up with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 win from Ignatius Castelino in the No. 5 position to turn all attention to No. 2 singles as both teams anxiously cheered on their teammates with the NCAA berth hanging in the balance.
 
Drake will learn its upcoming NCAA Tournament opponent when the field is unveiled at 5 p.m. Monday during a watch party open to the public in the Paul F. Morrison Room in the Knapp Center.

The NCAA appearance will be the program's 12th in its history and 11th since 2006.
 
No. 2 Drake 4, No. 1 Denver 3
Apr 27, 2019 at Tulsa, Okla. (Bernis Duke Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Vinny Gillespie (DU) def. Matt Summers (DEN) 6-2, 6-2
2. Tom Hands (DU) def. Mattia Ros (DEN) 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)
3. James Davis (DEN) def. Bayo Philips (DU) 6-2, 7-6
4. Calum MacGeoch (DU) def. Pedro F. Del Valle (DEN) 6-4, 6-4
5. Ignatius Castelino (DEN) def. Barny Thorold (DU) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
6. Ben Clark (DU) def. Daniel Krulig (DEN) 7-6, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Matt Summers/James Davis (DEN) def. Vinny Gillespie/Barny Thorold (DU) 7-5
2. Mattia Ros/Pedro F. Del Valle (DEN) def. Tom Hands/Bayo Philips (DU) 6-2
3. Calum MacGeoch/Ben Clark (DU) def. Eric Morris/Daniel Krulig (DEN) 7-5
 
Match Notes
No. 2 Drake 19-13, 5-1
No. 1 Denver 13-9, 6-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,4,3,6,5,2)
2019 Summit League Championship Final
No. 1 vs. No. 2
Official: Kevin Gannon