TERRE HAUTE, IND. – The Drake men's tennis team set the stage for a potential winner-take-all showdown with Illinois State next weekend for the Missouri Valley Conference regular season crown after notching a 6-1 victory over Indiana State on Sunday (April 15).

The 53rd-ranked Bulldogs recorded their 18th consecutive triumph and now stand at 19-2 on the campaign, including 4-0 in league competition. The Sycamores dropped to 9-10 overall and 3-2 in the MVC following the setback.

“We did a great job of establishing the tempo of the match early with some outstanding doubles play,” Drake head coach Chase Hodges commented. “It was windy and cold today and the guys did a great job of taking care of business in getting the victory.”

The Bulldogs did an outstanding job in doubles as Drake only dropped five sets in three contests.

The 44th-ranked tandem of sophomore Maor Zirkin (KIbutz Hazor, Israel) and junior Dalibor Pavic (Adelaide, Australia) pushed their league slate to 4-0, while improving to 26-1 on the year, with an 8-1 decision against Rishi Behl and Anton Tsymbalov at No. 1 doubles.

The Bulldogs also garnered triumphs from freshmen Bokang Setshogo (Gaborone, Botswana) and Guilherme Marsiglia (Porto Alegre, Brazil) at No. 3 doubles and the second doubles pair of senior Sergi Vila (Barcelona, Spain) and sophomore Ivan Mendoza (Wellington, New Zealand).

Vila and Mendoza dispatched of Michael Wenham and Bruno Echer at the No. 2 slot, while defeated Jon Sigurdsson and Mpiloenhle Migogo at No. 3 doubles, both by identical 8-2 scores.

In singles, the final score in the match wasn't indicative of how much the Bulldogs were tested by a talented Indiana State unit.

Zirkin collected his 23rd victory of the season at No. 1 singles, but Tsymbalov pushed him to brink before posting a 7-5, 4-6, 15-13 decision.

Vila improved his ledger to 34-6 in singles with his 17th straight victory as he bettered Behl, 6-1, 6-0 at the second singles hole.

Drake also garnered wins at the Nos. 3, 5 and 6 slots from Pavic, Setshogo and Mendoza.

Drake returns home for its final two matches of the season next weekend. The Bulldogs will face Illinois State on Saturday (April 21) before tangling with Bradley on Sunday (April 22). A victory over the Redbirds will ensure no worse than a tie for the regular season MVC crown.

No. 53 Drake def. Indiana State, 6-1
April 15, 2007
Terre Haute, Ind.
Records: Drake (19-2, 4-0 MVC), Indiana State (9-10, 3-2 MVC)

Singles
No. 1 Maor Zirkin (DU) def. Anton Tsymbalov (ISU), 7-5, 4-6, 15-13
No. 2 Sergi Vila (DU) def. Rishi Behl (ISU), 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 Dalibor Pavic (DU) def. Mpiloenhle Migogo (ISU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 4 Bruno Echer (ISU) def. Guilherme Marsiglia (DU), 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7)
No. 5 Bokang Setshogo (DU) def. Michael Wenham (ISU), 6-4, 7-5
No. 6 Ivan Mendoza (DU) def. Jon Sigurdsson (ISU), 7-6 (4), 6-4

Doubles
No. 1 No. 44 Zirkin/Pavic (DU) def. Behl/Tsymbalov (ISU), 8-1
No. 2 Vila/Mendoza (DU) def. Wenham/Echer (ISU), 8-2
No. 3 Setshogo/Marsiglia (DU) def. Migogo/Sigurdsson (ISU), 8-2