Feb. 18, 2011
CHICAGO- The UIC men's tennis will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to take on Graceland University (Feb. 19) and host Drake University (Feb.20) at 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. respectively at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
UIC (1-6) is coming off their first home loss of the season against the Bradley Braves, 5-2, on Feb. 12 at the Hinsdale Racquet Club Saturday night.
In doubles play, junior Dave Robare and freshman Alexander Raa, defeated BU's No. 2 tandem of Juan Cuadrado and Arthur Romanet, 8-2. Junior captain Nate Kirk returning back for his first match of the season, won in the No. 4 singles position over BU's Ashton Kalhorn, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5), 10-8. Freshman Alan Reifer, following his captain's lead and defeated BU's Justin Abrams in the No. 5 singles position, 7-5, 6-2.
"Drake is a really good team and have always had a great home record," said head coach Hans Neufeld. "They have a nationally ranked player in Mauricio Ballivan, and a talented group behind him".
Graceland is coming into this weekend with an overall record of 2-0. On Sunday, Feb. 13, the Yellowjackets defeated host Grinnell College, 7-2, and later on that day, the Yellowjackets then defeated Truman State University without dropping a point, 9-0.
Drake comes into this weekend, without dropping a dual match all season at an overall record of 4-0. Last Saturday, Feb. 12, the Bulldogs defeated Central Florida in Bloomington, Ind., 5-3. The next day on Feb. 13, they traveled to Indianapolis to take on host Butler University, and defeated conference foe Butler in a convincing fashion, 7-0.
Drake's senior Mauricio Ballivan, is national ranked at No. 122 for singles according to the ITA on Feb. 14. Ballivan fellow teammates, junior Sean O'Grady and sophomore James Mckie, are Central Regional ranked players coming in at No. 9 and No. 14 singles respectively. The doubles tandem of Ballivan and sophomore Anis Ghorbel are nationally ranked coming in at No. 80.
UIC hasn't faced Graceland and Drake since 2008, and the Flames that year defeated Graceland, 6-1, but falling to Drake by the same result, 6-1, in Des Moines, Iowa.
