TULSA, OKLA. - The Drake men's tennis team kicked off its final event of the fall campaign at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Regional on Friday (Oct. 23) hosted by the University of Tulsa.

The tandem of freshman James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland) and junior Mauricio Ballivian (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) came up just short in their upset bid of the seventh-seeded duo of Christopher Aumueller and Benedikt Lindheim of Nebraska in doubles play, falling 9-8 (5).

"The loss in doubles was a tough pill to swallow as we held five match points and weren't able to convert, but it is something we will work on in practice and learn from," Drake head coach Jimmy Borendame commented.

In singles, 15th-seeded Ballivian dispatched of Western Illinois' Jeff Cote, 6-0, 6-3.  Ballivian will meet Lindheim in the round of 32 on Saturday (Oct. 24).

In other singles action, McKie was bested, 6-3, 6-3, by Matt Hogan of Arkansas, while senior Guilherme Marsiglia (Porto Alegre, Brazil) dropped a 6-3, 6-4 decision to Mike Ward of Arkansas.

Both McKie and Marsiglia will be among those players competing in the singles back draw on Saturday (Oct. 24).

ITA CENTRAL REGIONAL

OCT. 23, 2009 • TULSA, OKLA.

SINGLES:

Mike Ward (ARK) def. Guilherme Marsiglia (DU), 6-3, 6-4

Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. Jeff Cote (WIU), 6-0, 6-3

James McKie (DU) vs. Matt Hogan (ARK), 6-3, 6-3

DOUBLES:

Christopher Aumueller/Benedikt Lindheim (NEB) def. Ballivian/McKie (DU), 9-8 (5)