DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's tennis team topped Grand Canyon, 5-2, Sunday at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
 
"I am really pleased on how the team bounced back from our match on Friday. Today, we were focused on coming out strong in doubles," said Drake head coach Mai-Ly Tran. "We played a team (Grand Canyon) that plays a little different with a lot of lobs in doubles. We did a great job playing strong aggressive doubles and that set the tone for the match."
 
The Bulldogs swept the doubles point to take quick 1-0 lead. Summer Brills and Kenya Williams shutout Celina Buhr and Valetina Mokrova, 6-0, at No. 2, while Joely Lomas and Mela Jaglarz clinched the point with a 6-1 win at No. 3.
 
Grand Canyon managed to tie the match up 1-1 with a win at No. 6 singles.
 
Brills blanked Martina Lo Pumo, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 to give Drake the lead back, 2-1.
 
Buhr defeated Williams in straight sets to knot the match up at 2-2.
 
Lomas gave the Bulldogs the lead for good with her 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 4, while Herder clinched the Bulldog victory, defeating Lana Rinaldi, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2.
 
"It was nice to have Joely back in the lineup. We definitely felt her presences in doubles and singles. She had a good win and it's great to see her healthy again," said Tran.
 
Freshman Liza Petushkova recorded the final win of the day as she earned a tough three-set victory, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 at No. 3.
 
Drake travels to California for a pair of midweek matches. The Bulldogs will square off against Cal State-Northridge on Wednesday, March 14 and UC Riverside on Friday, March 16.
 
Drake 5, Grand Canyon University 2
Mar 11, 2018 at Des Moines, Iowa (Roger Knapp Tennis Center) 

Singles competition

1. Brills, Summer (DU) def. Lo Pumo, Martina (GCU) 6-0, 6-0

2. Herder, Tess (DU) def. Rinaldi, Lana (GCU) 6-3, 6-3

3. Petushkova, Liza (DU) def. Occhipinti, Emilia (GCU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

4. Lomas, Joely (DU) def. Mokrova, Valentina (GCU) 6-1, 6-3

5. Buhr, Celina (GCU) def. Williams, Kenya (DU) 6-3, 6-3

6. Waschuk, Kylie (GCU) def. Kozlowski, Alex (DU) 6-0, 6-0

 

Doubles competition

1. Herder, Tess/Petushkova, Liza (DU) def. Rinaldi, Lana/Occhipinti, Emilia (GCU) 6-2

2. Brills, Summer/Williams, Kenya (DU) def. Buhr, Celina/Mokrova, Valentina (GCU) 6-0

3. Lomas, Joely/Jaglarz, Mela (DU) def. Waschuk, Kylie/Prudhomme, Autum (GCU) 6-1

 

Match Notes

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,1,5,4,2,3)