LINCOLN, Neb. – Drake men's tennis was away from home for a stint in Lincoln at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men's Central Regional Championships over the weekend. The Bulldogs went toe-to-toe with the best of the Midwest with some solid performances throughout the lineup.
 
Competition started on Wednesday, Oct. 7, in Lincoln. Ulysse Verrando opened Drake's week with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Wichita State's Felix Bockelmann Evans. Verrando was then beaten by former Bulldog Pavan Uppu, who now represented Omaha, by a 6-0, 6-4 tally.
 
Drake picked up four other wins on Wednesday including Alex Yeager over Cristian Pansavalle of Oral Roberts (6-4, 6-0), Arin Menon over Rocky McKenzue of Creighton (6-2, 6-1), Alan Gonzalez over Lucas Cout of ORU (7-5, 6-2), and Jose Alessandro Hernandez over Omaha's Noah Greni (7-5, 6-1). Hernandez eventually lost in singles to Timotee Andriveau of Arkansas, the No. 8 seed.
 
Drake's doubles effort was limited to Thursday. Verrando and Adan Tarquino teams up for the Bulldogs' lone tandem triumph as they beat ORU's Pensavalle and Couy, 8-3. The Bulldogs' doubles losses included three to top 15 seeds with Yeager and Menon teaming up for a close loss to the third-seeded combo of Ian Bracks and Haydar Cem Gokpinar of Oklahoma State. The Cowboys' twosome entered the weekend ranked 68th in the country and proved their standing against the Dogs.
 
Singles action resumed for Drake on Friday and Saturday, starting with a Samuel Melaga loss. Melaga advanced through the opening round on a bye but was then beaten by Tulsa's Alex Santino Nunez in two sets. Menon was also ousted by Sam Reeve of Memphis (6-1, 6-4). Saturday included another highlight as Alan Gonzalez, who reached the backdraw semifinals, got some retribution with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Reeve.
 
Drake's next action is currently scheduled for Oct. 23-25 in Muncie, Ind. The Bulldogs will hit the court in their first competition against new conference foes at the MAC Indoors.
 
 
RESULTS
Singles Competition
Wendesday, Oct. 7
Ulysse Verrando (DU) def. Felix Bockelmann Evans (WICH) 6-4, 6-2
Pavan Uppu (OMA) def. Ulysse Verrando (DU) 6-0, 6-4
Alex Yeager (DU) def. Cristian Pansavalle (ORU) 6-4, 6-0
Arin Menon (DU) def. Rocky McKenzie (CREI) 6-2, 6-1
Eloi Roux (OMA) def. Adan Tarquino (DU) 7-5, 6-1
Alan Gonzalez (DU) def. Lucas Cout (ORU) 7-5, 6-2
Kaden Taylor (OMA) def. Alex Yeager (DU) 6-1, 6-3
Jose Alessandro Hernandez (DU) def. Noah Greni (OMA) 7-5, 6-1
Brett Gloria (TULS) def. Max Goldemberg (DU) 6-3, 6-1
 
Friday, Oct. 9
Alex Santino Nunez (TULS) def. Samuel Melaga (DU) 7-6, 6-1
Sam Reeve (MEM) def. Arin Menon (DU) 6-1, 6-4
 
Saturday, Oct. 10
Alan Gonzalez (DU) def. Sam Reeve (MEM) 6-0, 6-4
Timotee Andriveau (ARK) def. Jose Alessandro Hernandez (DU) 6-1, 6-4
 
Doubles Competition
Thursday, Oct. 8
Pavan Uppu/Maddox Lundell (OMA) def. Alan Gonzalez/Samuel Melaga (DU) 8-2
Ulysse Verrando/Adan Tarquino (DU) def. Cristian Pensavalle/Lucas Couy (ORU) 8-3
Ian Bracks/Haydar Cem Gokpinar (OKST) def. Alex Yeager/Arin Menon (DU) 8-7
Sydney Zick/Ben Stecker (OKST) def. Jose Alessandro Hernandez/Max Goldemberg (DU) 8-5
Lasse Rensing/Yannic Nittmann (MEM) def. Ulysse Verrando/Adan Tarquino (DU) 8-2