OMAHA, Neb. - Senior Jonathan Hadash (Lapid, Israel) wanted a chance for redemption and redeem himself he did as his 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory over Tomislav Gregurovic at No. 3 singles catapulted Drake to its second-straight State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Men's Tennis Championship title, 4-1, over Wichita State on Sunday (April 29). 

The triumph provided the Bulldogs their sixth NCAA Tournament berth and fourth in the last six seasons.  The win also enabled Drake to equal the school record for victories (24) set in 2008.

"It was a great team win for us,"  Bulldog head coach Evan Austin.  "We're all extremely excited to be going back to NCAA Tournament for second year in a row.  I couldn't be more proud of Jonathan (Hadash) to fight back to clinch the match in his senior year."

The Shockers took the early lead in doubles jumping to an early 7-2 advantage at the No. 2 slot en route to posting an 8-5 decision.

The Bulldogs' duo of senior Cesar Bracho (Luque, Paraquay) and freshman Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina) avenged a loss one week ago versus Juan Estenssoro and Erick Reyes at the No. 3 position, downing Wichita State, 8-4.

All attention then turned to the top-doubles court where juniors Anis Ghorbel (Sfax, Tunisia) and James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland) fell behind David Cavalcanti and Matheus Pereira, 4-3. 

The duo waged a comeback that saw Drake score three of the next four tallies to assume a 6-4 advantage.  The Shockers netted two of the next three points before Ghorbel put away the match-winner with a second-serve ace to garner an 8-6 victory.

Salibasic extended the Bulldogs' lead to 2-0 after downing Reyes on court No. 6, 6-1, 6-2.

Falling behind 4-3 in the second set, sophomore Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England) registered three unanswered tallies to dispatch Guilermo Nicol, 6-2, 6-4, and give Drake a 3-0 lead.

Wichita State cracked the scoring column with a victory at No. 2. 

All attention then turned to the No. 3 court where Hadash, who suffered a loss to Gregurovic a week ago, held a 5-2 second-set lead.  Gregurovic rallied to tie the set at five before Hadash took a 6-5 advantage, serving for the match.  Gregurovic again tied the set at six to force a tiebreaker.  Hadash briefly sought attention from the athletic trainer before rallying to win the tiebreaker and the match.

The Bulldogs will find out their NCAA fate when tournament pairings are announced on Tuesday (May 1) at 4:30 p.m.

NO. 48 DRAKE (24-2) DEF. WICHITA STATE (16-6), 4-1

APRIL 29, 2012 • OMAHA, NEB.

SINGLES:

No. 1 Anis Ghorbel (DU) vs. Matheus Pereira (WSU), 3-6, 6-6 (2) unfinished

No. 2 David Cavalcanti (WSU) def. James McKie (DU), 6-2, 6-4

No. 3 Jonathan Hadash (DU) def. Tomislav Gregurovic (WSU), 6-4, 7-6 (3)

No. 4 Robin Goodman (DU) def. Guilermo Nicol (WSU), 6-2, 6-4

No. 5 Alen Salibasic (DU) def. Erick Reyes (WSU), 6-1, 6-2

No. 6 Ben Mullis (DU) vs. Juan Estenssoro (WSU), 3-6, 4-3 unfinished

Order of finish: (5,4,2,3)

DOUBLES:

No. 1 Ghorbel/McKie (DU) def. Cavalcanti/Pereira (WSU), 8-6

No. 2 Gregurovic/Nicol (WSU) def. Erasmus/Robin Goodman (DU), 8-5

No. 3 Cesar Bracho/Salibasic (DU) def. Estenssoro/Reyes (WSU), 8-4

Order of finish: (2,3,1)