DES MOINES, IOWA - The Drake men's tennis team turned in a strong performance in first-day competition at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Individuals on Friday (Jan. 21) posting a 11-4 mark in singles action at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

Senior Mauricio Ballivian (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) captured the top seed in pool two of the top singles flight besting Vlad Marinescu of Wichita State, 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-3, before downing Adam Fabick of Southern Illinois, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

In the No. 2 draw, sophomore James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland) bounced back after an opening setback to defeat JT Christian of Creighton, 6-2, 6-1.

At No. 3, sophomore Jean Erasmus (Windhoek, Namibia) dealt Illinois State's Matej Zlatkovic a 6-4, 6-2 loss before downing Eric Nguyen of Bradley, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

Making his Drake debut at the No. 4 slot was sophomore Anis Ghorbel (Sfax, Tunisia), who registered a come-from-behind, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) triumph versus Filip Miljevic of Illinois State.  He followed by besting Creighton's Bryan Lube, 6-4, 6-2.

Freshman Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England) posted a 1-1 mark at No. 5 to move into the main draw.

The Bulldogs garnered a pair of wins from sophomore Ryan Drake (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) and junior Sean O'Grady (Tempe, Ariz.) to remain in contention for a title at No. 7.

Action resumes on Saturday (Jan. 22) with doubles play kicking off from the Roger Knapp Tennis Center at 9:00 a.m.

STATE FARM MVC INDIVIDUALS

JAN. 21, 2011 • ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER

SINGLES:

Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. Vlad Marinescu (WSU), 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-3

Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. Adam Fabick (SIU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

Alexander Pelaez (ILST) def. James McKie (DU), 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-4

James McKie (DU) def. JT Christian (CU), 6-2, 6-1

Jean Erasmus (DU) def. Matej Zlatkovic (ILST), 6-4, 6-2

Jean Erasmus (DU) def. Eric Nguyen (BU), 6-4, 7-6 (5)

Anis Ghorbel (DU) def. Filip Miljevic (ILST), 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4)

Anis Ghorbel (DU) def. Bryan Lube (CU), 6-4, 6-2

Tuomas Manner (ILST) def. Robin Goodman (DU), 6-3, 6-0

Robin Goodman (DU) def. Arthur Romanet (BU), 6-2, 6-2

Mya Smith-Dennis (ILST) def. Cesar Bracho (DU), 7-6 (5), 6-2

Justin Abrams (BU) def. Cesar Bracho (DU), 7-6 (2), 6-1

Ryan Drake (DU) def. Lorenz Laurel (CU), 6-3, 6-2

Ryan Drake (DU) def. Juan Varon (ILST), 6-3, 6-4

Sean O'Grady (DU) def. Sean Mathison (CU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-1