March 16, 2011

Results

MEMPHIS, Tenn.- The Univeristy of Memphis men's tennis squad came up short against Drake University in a 4-3 heartbreaker on Wednesday afternoon at The Racquet Club of Memphis. With the loss, the Tigers fall to 9-7 overall (2-3 C-USA), while the Bulldogs improve to 10-3 on the season.

The U of M led 1-0 after picking up the initial point in doubles play. At the No. 3 slot, Memphis tandem Leon Nasemann and John Taylor downed Robin Goodman and Jonathan Hadash, 8-5, before David O'Hare and partner Joe Salisbury topped James McKie and Jean Erasmus at the second seed by an 8-6 mark to give the Tigers the advantage heading into singles.

The Bulldogs tied things up at 1-1 with a win at No. 4 where Anis Ghorbel defeated Johnny Grimal, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, in the first of five three-set bouts.

Salisbury moved the Blue and Gray ahead again, 2-1, with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) win over opponent James McKie in the only straight-set victory of the day. Salisbury now ties Nasemann with a team-leading 10 wins in singles.

The back-and-forth play would continue as Drake's Mauricio Ballivian upended O'Hare, 6-7 (7-4), 6-2, 6-3, at the top flight, and two more come-from-behind wins at No. 5 (Goodman def. Henry, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, 6-3) and No. 3 (Erasmus def. Nasemann, 6-7 (11-9), 6-2, 6-4) locked up the match for Drake.

Memphis will have some time off to regroup before it's back in action versus conference foe Southern Miss on Saturday, March 26. The C-USA battle is slated for noon at The Racquet Club of Memphis.

Drake 4, Memphis 3
Singles 1. Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. David O'Hare (MEM) 6-7 (7-4), 6-2, 6-3
2. Joe Salisbury (MEM) def. James McKie(DU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Jean Erasmus (DU) def. Leon Nasemann (MEM) 6-7 (11-9), 6-2, 6-4
4. Anis Ghorbel (DU) def. Johnny Grimal (MEM) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
5. Robin Goodman (DU) def. David Henry (MEM) 6-7 (7-5), 6-2, 6-3
6. Cedric de Zutter (MEM) def. Jonathan Hadash (DU) 7-6 (9-7), 5-7, 2-2 ret.
Doubles
1. Mauricio Ballivian/Anis Ghorbel (DU) def. Jordan Smith/David Henry (MEM) 8-5
2. David O'Hare/Joe Salisbury (MEM) def. James McKie/Jean Erasmus (DU) 8-6
3. Leon Nasemann/John Taylor (MEM) def. Robin Goodman/Jonathan Hadash (DU) 8-5
OF: Doubles (3, 2, 1) Singles (4, 2, 1, 5, 3*, 6)