DES MOINES, IOWA - Only days after snow blanketed the Drake Tennis Center courts, the Bulldogs went outdoors and came away with a 4-3 victory over Southern Illinois in women's tennis action on Sunday (April 15).

The win capped a strong home campaign by the Bulldogs and improved Drake's ledger on the year to 8-11, including a 3-2 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference. The loss dropped the Salukis to 11-8 overall and 2-4 in conference action.

The Bulldogs won the match in doubles play as the Blue and White recorded victories in two of the three contests to secure what proved to be the deciding point in the tilt.

The duo of sophomore Veronika Leszayova (Povazska Bystrica, Slovak Republic) and junior Allison Wilkie (Omaha, Neb.) pushed their MVC record to 4-1 after notching an 8-6 triumph versus Sabi Tsala-Mvilongo and Jessica Flannery at No. 1 doubles.

Collecting the decision at the second doubles position was the tandem of junior Irina Kalashnikova (Sochi, Russia) and senior Eve Rusdianto (Surabaya, Indonesia), who earned an 8-4 victory against Martina Vianna Ce and Michela Cruise.

Playing in the final home matches of their respective careers, Rusdianto and Wilkie each responded by posting singles wins.

At the No. 2 slot, Rusdianto defeated Agata Skorupska (SIU), 6-1, 6-1, while Wilkie recorded a 6-4, 6-2 decision over Amanda Taillefer at No. 6.

Accounting for the Bulldogs' other singles triumph was Leszayova, who downed Tsala-Mvilongo at the top singles hole, 6-2, 6-1.

Drake heads to the road next weekend as the Bulldogs will be tested as the Blue and White will have three matches in three days. Up first on the docket is a 5:00 p.m. match at Bradley on Friday (April 20).

Drake def. Southern Illinois, 4-3
April 15, 2007
Des Moines, Iowa – Drake Tennis Center
Records: Drake (8-11, 3-2 MVC), Southern Illinois (11-8, 2-4 MVC)

Singles
No.1 Veronika Leszayova (DU) def. Sabi Tsala-Mvilongo (SIU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 Eveline Rusdianto (DU) def. Agata Skorupska (SIU), 6-1, 6-1
No. 3 Jessica Flannery (SIU) def. Irina Kalashnikova (DU), 4-6, 7-5, 10-8
No. 4 Michela Cruise (SIU) def. Zi Wang (DU), 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 Martina Vianna Ce (SIU) def. Sarah Plowman (DU), 6-4, 6-0
No. 6 Allison Wilkie (DU) def. Amanda Taillefer (SIU), 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
No. 1 Leszayova/Wilkie (DU) def. Tsala-Mvilongo/Flannery (SIU), 8-6
No. 2 Rusdianto/Kalashnikova (DU) def. Vianna Ce/Cruise (SIU), 8-4
No. 3 Taillefer/Andrea Courtney (SIU) def. Sloboth/Plowman (DU), 8-4