OCTOBER 2, 2011

TULSA, Okla. - When it appeared all was done for the Drake men's tennis team at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American Championships on Sunday (Oct. 2) after posting a 2-2 mark in singles action, the Bulldogs and junior James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland) were awarded a "Lucky Loser" bid into Monday's qualifying draw.

In the top half of the draw, McKie earned a come-from-behind 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 triumph over Jarryd Chaplin of Tennessee, who was seeded in the 5-12 grouping.  He wasn't as lucky in his next match dropping a 6-0, 6-2 decision against Carlin Murray of Louisiana-Lafayette.

McKie's fate soon changed after the day's play was complete when his name was chosen in a blind draw held to fill openings in the qualifying draw.

Freshman Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina) also won his third-round tilt downing Jackson Withrow of Texas A&M (17-32 seeding), 6-3, 6-3, but was thwarted in his bid to move into the qualifying draw suffering a 6-3, 6-2 setback against third-seeded Lars Behlen of Baylor.

Competition in the qualifying round begins on Monday (Oct. 3) with junior Anis Ghorbel (Sfax, Tunisia) and McKie participating in the singles event, while McKie and junior Jean Erasmus (Windhoek, Namibia) will take to the court in doubles play on Tuesday (Oct. 4).

ITA ALL-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

PRE-QUALIFYING DRAW

OCTOBER 2, 2011 • TULSA, OKLA.

SINGLES:

James McKie (DU) def. Jarryd Chaplin (TENN), 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3

Carlin Murray (ULL) def. James McKie (DU), 6-0, 6-2

Alen Salibasic (DU) def. Jackson Withrow (TEXAS A&M), 6-3, 6-3

Lars Behlen (BAY) def. Alen Salibasic (DU), 6-3, 6-2