Oct. 18, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Nate Kirk (Wichita, Kan./Wichita-Southeast), James Li (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton-Warrenville South), Alexander Raa (Bergen, Norway/Tertnes VGS) and Alan Reifer (San Jose, Costa Rica/Dr, Jaim Weizman Institute) of the UIC men's tennis team concluded the USTA/ITA Midwest Regional in Columbus, Ohio. Raa dropped to Notre Dame's Casey Watt in a 6-4, 6-4 outcome, Watt went on to compete in the semifinals of the event.

Reifer, Kirk and Li competed in the qualifier draw of the event. Li defeated 12th-ranked Otavio Perim of Marquette in a three-set match, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. He then matched up with Horizon League foe, Jorg Van der Vloet of Cleveland State and dropped 7-5, 5-7, 6-2.

Reifer dropped to Juuso Ojanen of Illinois State in straight sets (6-2, 6-4), while the Redbird went onto to qualify for the main draw competition.

Kirk played Chris Baum of Valparaiso in a tough first set as he dropped 7-6 (11-9) and was unable to rebound as he fell 6-1 in the second.

In the main draw, Raa fell to Watt in straight 6-4 sets, but the Notre Dame opponent continued all the way to the semifinal round of the contest.

In doubles action, Raa and teammate Kirk met Notre Dame's Watt and his partner Greg Andrews and the Flames tandem fell 8-1 in the match. Watt and Andrews continued to the quarterfinals of the tournament.