MIAMI, Fla. – The Drake University women's tennis team got out to a solid start at the FIU Invitational Friday in Miami, Fla. The Bulldogs had two players in singles advance to the championship match in their respective draws and two doubles teams to move on to the semifinals.
 
In doubles, senior Tess Herder and freshman Liza Petushkova wasted little time as they cruised past North Florida's Gartner/Karangoz, 6-1, to advance to the semifinals of the #1 doubles draw. Senior Summer Brills and freshman Megan Webb also moved on to the semifinals of the #1 doubles draw, defeating Texas State's Lewis/Jones, 6-4. The Bulldogs didn't have as much success in the #2 doubles draw as juniors Joely Lomas and Kenya Williams fell in the opening round and senior Mel Jaglarz, who teamed up with UNF's Lucia Montano, dropped their first-round match as well.
 
Brills and Petushkova each earned a pair of singles victories, advancing to the championship match of the #2 singles draw and the #3 singles draw, respectively. Brills posted a three-set victory to start and then topped Texas State's Lewis, 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals. Petushkova pu together two outstanding performance as she beat UNF's Nykos 6-3, 6-2 and FAU's Ruiz , 6-0, 6-4 to get to the #3 singles draw championship.
 
Herder and Lomas both fell in the semifinals of their respective draws. Herder came back from being down a set to beat Texas State's Navajo 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, but then fell to FIU's Veksler 6-3, 6-1 in the #1 singles draw semifinals. Lomas also earned an opening round win over Texas State, 6-3, 6-1 and then was setback by FIU's Grib, 6-0, 6-1 in the #2 singles semifinals.
 
The Bulldogs will wrap up action at the FIU Invitational on Saturday.