DES MOINES, IOWA - Posting its fifth consecutive victory to begin the campaign, Drake registered a 6-1 men's tennis triumph over Illinois at Chicago (UIC) on Sunday (Feb. 20) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

The Flames stole the early momentum in the affair earning wins at the Nos. 2 and 3 doubles positions to secure the point and assume a 1-0 leading heading into singles.

The Bulldogs came alive in singles action garnering decisions at the Nos. 4, 6 and 5 slots, respectively, to take a 3-1 advantage.

Sophomore Anis Ghorbel (Sfax, Tunisia) dispatched of Luiz Gonzaga, 6-3, 6-2, at the fourth position, before junior Jonathan Hadash (Lapid, Israel) bettered Alan Reifer, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 6.

Freshman Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England) pushed Drake to the precipice of victory downing Dave Robare at No. 5, 6-4, 6-3.

Sealing the triumph was sophomore James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland), who collected a 7-6 (4), 6-4, win over James Li on court No. 2.

The Bulldogs also netted victories courtesy of senior Mauricio Ballivian (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) and sophomore Jean Erasmus (Windhoek, Namibia) at the Nos. 1 and 3 holes, respectively.

Drake now rounds out its weekend hosting Graceland later in the day at 4:00 p.m.

DRAKE (5-0) DEF. UIC (2-7), 6-1

FEB. 20, 2011 • ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER

SINGLES:

No. 1 Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. Alexander Raa (UIC), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4

No. 2 James McKie (DU) def. James Li (UIC), 7-6 (4), 6-4

No. 3 Jean Erasmus (DU) def. Nate Kirk (UIC), 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3

No. 4 Anis Ghorbel (DU) def. Luiz Gonzaga (UIC), 6-3, 6-2

No. 5 Robin Goodman (DU) def. Dave Robare (UIC), 6-4, 6-3

No. 6 Jonathan Hadash (DU) def. Alan Reifer (UIC), 6-4, 6-1

Order of Finish: 4,6,5,2,1,3

DOUBLES:

No. 1 Ballivian/Goodman (DU) def. Raa/Robare (UIC), 8-4

No. 2 Scott Shepardson/Kirk (UIC) def. Erasmus/Hadash (DU), 9-7

No. 3 Gonzaga/Reifer (UIC) def. Ryan Drake/Ghorbel (DU), 9-7

Order of Finish: 1,3,2