DES MOINES, IOWA - Seniors Irina Kalashnikova (Sochi, Russia) and Daria Zawislak (Gdansk, Poland) closed out their Drake women's tennis home careers with a bang on Sunday (April 6) as the pair contributed a pair of victories in a 5-2 triumph over Bradley at the Drake Tennis Center.
The Bulldogs snapped a three-match losing streak with the victory and improved their ledger to 8-12 on the year, including 2-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The loss dropped the Braves to 4-10, including 0-4 in league action.
Drake found itself in an early deficit as Bradley won the doubles point and assumed a 2-0 advantage after the Bulldogs defaulted the singles tilt at the No. 6 position.
Junior Kari Sloboth (Omaha, Neb.) began the comeback registering a 6-0, 6-0 decision against Jessica Buterbaugh at the No. 3 slot.
Junior Veronika Leszayova (Povazska Bystrica, Slovak Republic) followed by downing Emily Regenold, 6-1, 6-1 at the top singles hole to square the affair at two.
Providing Drake a 3-2 lead was Zawislak, who netted a 6-1, 6-4 decision against Nicole Miller at No. 4.
Junior Sarah Plowman (Halifax, Nova Scotia) completed the rally with her 6-3, 6-1 victory versus Erin Krubeck at the fifth singles hole.
Kalashnikova rounded out the victory total with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Kelly Donohue at the second singles position. The triumph was the 104th in Kalashnikova's Drake career.
The Bulldogs hit the road next weekend as Drake battles Evansville (April 12) and Southern Illinois (April 13). Match time against the Purple Aces is slated for 12:00 p.m.
Drake def. Bradley, 5-2
Drake Tennis Center ? April 6, 2008
Records: Drake (8-12, 2-3 MVC), Bradley (4-10, 0-4 MVC)
Singles:
No. 1 Veronika Leszayova (DU) def. Emily Regenold (BU), 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 Irina Kalashnikova (DU) def. Kelly Donohue (BU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Kari Sloboth (DU) def. Jessica Buterbaugh (BU), 6-0, 6-0
No. 4 Daria Zawislak (DU) def. Nicole Miller (BU), 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 Sarah Plowman (DU) def. Erin Krubeck (BU), 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 Kim Braun (BU) won by default
Doubles:
No. 1 Leszayova/Plowman (DU) def. Donohue/Buterbaugh (BU), 8-0
No. 2 Miller/Regenold (BU) def. Kalashnikova/Sloboth (DU), 8-6
No. 3 Krubeck/Braun (BU) won by default
