Ghorbel and McKie moved into the semifinal round after dispatching fellow Missouri Valley Conference rivals Alvaro Gutierrez and Matheus Pereira of Wichita State, 9-7.
The tandem then faced the daunting task of battling the top-rated duo of Costin Paval and Dane Webb from Oklahoma. The Bulldogs proved up to the challenge registering an 8-5 triumph.
The championship doubles match of the ITA Central Regional is slated for 12:00 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 22) where Ghorbel and McKie will meet Guillermo Alcorta and Axel Alverez of Oklahoma.
In singles, Ghorbel and junior Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England) nearly made it an all-Drake finale as each came up short in their respective semifinal matches.
Ghorbel, who is ranked No. 87 in the preseason ITA singles rankings, dealt Paval, who is rated No. 6 nationally, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 setback in the quarterfinals.
With little time to recover after a grueling match, Ghorbel fell short in his showdown with No. 50 Leandro Toledo of Minnesota, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Goodman handed 44th-rated Clifford Marsland of Tulsa a 6-4, 6-4 loss in the quarterfinals before dropping a 6-3 6-0 decision against No. 28 Alcorta of Oklahoma.
Besting sophomore Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina) in the quarterfinals was Alcorta, 6-3, 6-2.
ITA CENTRAL REGIONAL
OCT. 21 • MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
SINGLES:
No. 87 Anis Ghorbel (DU) def. No. 6 Costin Paval (OKLA), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
No. 50 Leandro Toledo (MINN) def. No. 87 Anis Ghorbel (DU), 7-6 (5), 6-4
Robin Goodman (DU) def. No. 44 Clifford Marsland (TULSA), 6-4, 6-4
No. 28 Guillermo Alcorta (OKLA) def. Robin Goodman (DU), 6-3, 6-0
No. 28 Guillermo Alcorta (OKLA) def. Alen Salibasic (DU), 6-3, 6-2
DOUBLES:
No. 59 Ghorbel/McKie (DU) def. Alvaro Gutierrez/Matheus Pereira (WSU), 9-7
No. 59 Ghorbel/McKie (DU) def. No. 1 Costin Paval/Dane Webb (OKLA), 8-5
