WICHITA - The Shocker men's tennis team defeated the Drake Bulldogs, 4-2, in the semifinals to advance to Championship Sunday of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
Wichita State (13-8) downed the No. 3 seed Drake (15-9) in the Shockers' quest for their first MVC Tournament title since the 2003-04 season.
With a loud home crowd on their side, the Shockers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when they won what eventually became a crucial doubles point. Sophomore David Cavalcanti and freshman Matheus Pereira grabbed the first win quickly against Ryan Drake and Ryan King in the No. 3 position. The junior duo of Vlad Marinescu and Adrian Chermaci locked up the point when they knocked off Jean Erasmus and Jonathan Hadash, 8-4.
Pereira and Chermaci flew through the No. 5 and 6 matches, respectively, to build a commanding 3-0 Shocker lead. The Bulldogs fought back, narrowing the deficit to 3-2 with wins at the top two positions. Redshirt freshman Sven Kasper fell to the MVC's Co-Player of the Year, Mauricio Ballivian at the No. 1 position. Marinescu couldn't hold off James McKie in the No. 2 match and lost, 6-4, 6-3, to pull the Bulldogs within two matches of winning.
Cavalcanti put a stop to that. His 6-4, 6-2 win over Hadash in the No. 4 match sealed the Shockers' place in Sunday's championship match. No. 2 Wichita State will take on No. 1 Illinois State (15-7) at 2 p.m. at the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex.
Wichita State 4, Drake 2
Singles competition
1. Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. Sven Kasper (WSU) 6-3, 6-2
2. James McKie (DU) def. Vlad Marinescu (WSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Valentin Mihai (WSU) vs. Jean Erasmus (DU) 6-4, 5-4, unfinished
4. David Cavalcanti (WSU) def. Jonathan Hadash (DU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Matheus Pereira (WSU) def. Ryan Drake (DU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Adrian Chermaci (WSU) def. Ryan King (DU) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Sven Kasper/Valentin Mihai (WSU) vs. Mauricio Ballivian/James McKie (DU) 7-6, unfinished
2. Adrian Chermaci/Vlad Marinescu (WSU) def. Jean Erasmus/Jonathan Hadash (DU) 8-4
3. Matheus Pereira/David Cavalcanti (WSU) def. Ryan Drake/Ryan King (DU) 8-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,5,1,2,4)
-Wichita State-
