NORMAN, OKLA. - Drake men's tennis freshman Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England) made the most of the opportunity before him registering a pair of qualifying round victories to advance to the main draw of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Regional on Thursday (Oct. 21).

Each of the three Bulldogs competing in the qualifying draw were faced with the challenge of needing to win three matches, with Goodman by virtue of a first-round bye requiring just two triumphs, in order to reach the main draw that commences play on Friday (Oct. 22).

Goodman bested Nishaad Balachandran of Saint Louis, 6-2, 6-1, in his first contest before blasting past Bradley's Hamish Weerasinghe, 6-4, 6-0, to reach the main draw.

Junior Sean O'Grady (Tempe, Ariz.) opened competition downing Jorge Villacis of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 8-3.  In the second round, he netted a 64, 4-6, 10-4 triumph over Creighton's Kyle Obermeier before falling to Erik Sock of Nebraska, 7-6 (2), 6-2.

Also facing an opening round match was sophomore Ryan Drake (Hilton Head Island, S.C.), who was bettered by Bradley's Ashton Kalhorn, 8-6.  In his consolation tilt, Drake dropped a, 6-4, 6-4, outing to Arthur Romanet also from Bradley.

Goodman joins senior Mauricio Ballivian (Santa Cruz, Bolivia), junior Jonathan Hadash (Lapid, Israel) and sophomores James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland) and Jean Erasmus (Windhoek, Namibia) in the main singles draw.  Ballivian, McKie, Erasmus and Goodman will also participate in the doubles portion of the event when action resumes on Friday (Oct. 22).

ITA CENTRAL REGIONAL

OCT. 21, 2010 • NORMAN, OKLA.

SINGLES:

Sean O'Grady (DU) def. Jorge Villacis (Ark.-Pine Bluff), 8-3

Sean O'Grady (DU) def. Kyle Obermeier (CU), 6-4, 4-6, 10-4

Erik Sock (NEB) def. Sean O'Grady (DU), 7-6 (2), 6-2

Ashton Kalhorn (BU) def. Ryan Drake (DU), 8-6

Robin Goodman (DU) def. Nishaad Balachandran (SLU), 6-2, 6-1

Robin Goodman (DU) def. Hamish Weerasinghe (BU), 6-4, 6-0

Arthur Romanet (BU) def. Ryan Drake (DU), 6-4, 6-4