DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake men's tennis team posted a 5-3 mark in singles action on the opening day of the Missouri Valley Conference Individuals on Friday (Nov. 8) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

After receiving an opening-round bye as the tournament's No. 1 seed, junior Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina) registered a 7-5, 6-1 victory past Illinois State's Rolando Torrellas.

Seeded fourth, sophomore Ben Lott (Newcastle, England) bested Dan Rodefeld of Bradley, 6-0, 6-1, before downing Wichita State's Guillermo de Vilchez, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Junior Grant Tesmer (Lincoln, Neb.) opened his day garnering a 6-4, 6-0 win over Justin Abrams of Bradley, before suffering a 3-6, 6-3, 3-6 setback versus Jonny Rigby of Southern Illinois.

Also earning a first-round bye was the No. 2 tournament seed, junior Matt Frost (Cambridge, England).  He responded for Drake by posting a 6-2, 6-1 triumph past Jocelyn Devilliers from Wichita State.

Competition at the MVC Individuals continues on Saturday (Nov. 9) with doubles action getting underway at 9:00 a.m.

MVC INDIVIDUALS

NOV. 8, 2013 • ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER

SINGLES:

Alen Salibasic (DU) def. Rolando Torrellas (ILST), 7-5, 6-1

Jacob Wilson (ILST) def. Euan McIntosh (DU), 6-4, 7-6 (3)

Muddappa Appanervanda (ILST) def. Euan McIntosh (DU), default (injury)

Ben Lott (DU) def. Dan Rodefeld (BU), 6-0, 6-1

Ben Lott (DU) def. Guillermo de Vilchez (WSU), 7-6 (4), 6-4

Grant Tesmer (DU) def. Justin Abrams (BU), 6-4, 6-0

Jonny Rigby (SIU) def. Grant Tesmer (DU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

Matt Frost (DU) def. Jocelyn Devilliers (WSU), 6-2, 6-1