CARBONDALE, ILL. - Southern Illinois posted victories in four of six singles matches to snap Drake's modest two-match women's tennis winning streak as the Salukis collected a 5-2 victory on Sunday (April 13).
Drake enters the final week of its regular season with a 9-13 overall mark, including 3-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference after the loss, while Southern Illinois improved to 10-9 on the year and 3-2 in league play after garnering the win.
The lack of a sixth player again hurt the Bulldogs' chances in the match as the Salukis won the doubles point on the strength of Martina Vianna Ce and Michela Cruise's 8-3 victory at the No. 2 position over senior Irina Kalashnikova (Sochi, Russia) and junior Kari Sloboth (Omaha, Neb.).
Drake netted a strong decision at the top doubles hole where juniors Veronika Leszayova (Povazska Bystrica, Slovak Republic) and Sarah Plowman (Halifax, Nova Scotia) posted an 8-7 (3) win against Sabine Tsala Mvilong and Jessica Flannery.
In singles, the duo of Leszayova and Kalashnikova provided the Bulldogs with their points as the pair posted triumphs at the Nos. 1 and 2 positions.
At the top hole, Leszayova netted a 6-2, 6-1 victory versus Tsala Mvilong.
Kalashnikova rounded out the winning at No. 2 with a 6-3, 6-4 conquest of Vianna Ce.
The Bulldogs will close out their regular season on Sunday (April 20) as Drake travels to face 70th-ranked Wichita State at 12:00 p.m.
Southern Illinois def. Drake, 5-2
Carbondale, Ill. ? April 13, 2008
Records: Drake (9-13, 3-4 MVC), Southern Illinois (10-9, 3-2 MVC)
Singles:
No. 1 Veronika Leszayova (DU) def. Sabine Tsala Mvilong (SIU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 Irina Kalasnikova (DU) def. Martina Vianna Ce (SIU), 6-3, 6-4
No. 3 Michela Cruise (SIU) def. Kari Sloboth (DU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 4 Jessica Flannery (SIU) def. Daria Zawislak (DU), 6-2, 7-6 (3)
No. 5 Amanda Taillefer (SIU) def. Sarah Plowman (DU), 6-1, 6-3
No. 6 Andrea Courtney (SIU) won by default
Doubles:
No. 1 Leszayova/Plowman (DU) def. Tsala Mvilong/Flannery (SIU), 9-7
No. 2 Vianna Ce/Cruise (SIU) def. Kalashnikova/Sloboth (DU), 8-3
No. 3 Courtney/Taillefer (SIU) won by default
