JANUARY 20, 2012

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake men's tennis team got off to a strong start at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Individuals on Friday (Jan. 20) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center as the Bulldogs posted a 12-3 mark in singles action.

At the top singles slot, junior Anis Ghorbel (Sfax, Tunisia), who is rated No. 51 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, moved into the main draw with a pair of victories.  Ghorbel downed Ashton Kalhorn of Bradley, 6-2, 6-0, before besting Creighton's Billy Paluch, 6-1, 6-1.

Junior Jean Erasmus (Windhoek, Namibia) registered a pair of triumphs in the No. 2 flight defeating Illinois State's Tuomas Manner, 6-0, 7-6 (6), and J.T. Christian of Creighton, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Drake also garnered 2-0 marks in the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 flights courtesy of freshman Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina), sophomore Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England) and senior Jonathan Hadash (Lapid, Israel), respectively.

Junior James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland) advanced to the main draw as well out of the No. 3 draw after garnering a 6-4, 6-2 decision over Brandon Florez of Southern Illinois.

Remaining alive for a title at No. 7 is senior Sean O'Grady (Tempe, Ariz.), who defeated Sean Mathison of Creighton, 6-4, 6-1.

Action resumes on Saturday (Jan. 21) with doubles play commencing at 9:00 a.m. at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

STATE FARM MVC INDIVIDUALS

JANUARY 20, 2012 • ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER

SINGLES

No. 1 No. 51 Anis Ghorbel def. Ashton Kalhorn (BU), 6-2, 6-0

No. 1 No. 51 Anis Ghorbel def. Billy Paluch (CU), 6-1, 6-1

No. 2 Jean Erasmus (DU) def. Tuomas Manner (ILST), 6-0, 7-6 (6)

No. 2 Jean Erasmus (DU) def. J.T. Christian (CU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

No. 3 Skip Span (ILST) def. James McKie (DU), 6-3, 7-6 (5)

No. 3 James McKie (DU) def. Brandon Florez (SIU), 6-4, 6-2

No. 4 Alen Salibasic (DU) def. Martin Admiraal (SIU), 6-1, 6-2

No. 4 Alen Salibasic (DU) def. Hamish Weerasinghe (BU), 6-2, 6-1

No. 5 Robin Goodman (DU) def. Rafael Cuadrillero (SIU), 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-0

No. 5 Robin Goodman (DU) def. Willi Peter (ILST), 6-2, 6-3

No. 6 Jonathan Hadash (DU) def. Elliot Baker (CU), 6-1, 6-3

No. 6 Jonathan Hadash (DU) def. Orhan Spahic (SIU), 6-2, 6-2

No. 7 Arthur Romanet (BU) def. Cesar Bracho (DU), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5)

No. 7 Kester Black (WSU) def. Grant Tesmer (DU), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

No. 7 Sean O'Grady (DU) def. Sean Mathison (CU), 6-4, 6-1