DES MOINES, IOWA - The Drake women's tennis team got off to a smashing start in first day action of the Drake Fall Invitational on Friday (Sept. 26) as the Bulldogs posted a 13-2 combined singles/doubles ledger.

On the strength of a 7-1 singles mark, three players remain alive in both the “A” and “B” singles draws, while senior Sarah Plowman (Halifax, Nova Scotia/Hallifax Grammar) is in contention in the “C” flight.

Registering triumphs in the top singles bracket were freshmen Gabby Demos (Chesterfield, Mo./Lafayette) and Morgan Rainey (Kansas City, Mo./Barstow School) along with senior Veronika Leszayova (Povazska Bystrica, Republic/Gymnazium).

Senior Kari Sloboth (Omaha, Neb./Burke) and freshmen Jessica Aguilera (Santa Cruz, Bolivia/Saint George School) and Amanda Aragon (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins) did their damage in the “B” draw.

In doubles, the tandem of Demos and Aragon withstood a challenge in the quarterfinal round from Rebecca Miller and Lisa Mainz of Central Arkansas to post a 9-8 (4) triumph to move into the semifinals.

Leszayova and Plowman matched the feat earning a pair victories in the bottom half of the top doubles draw.

Rainey and Aguilera advanced to the semifinals of the “B” double bracket following their 8-0 victory over Janea Hagen and Ashley Waltman of South Dakota.

Action resumes on Saturday (Sept. 27) with two rounds of singles followed by a doubles flight.

Singles:
Morgan Rainey (DU) def. Phoebe Walker (UNI), 7-6 (4), 2-6, 11-9
Gabby Demos (DU) def. Rebecca Miller (UCA), 6-1, 6-0
Veronika Leszayova (DU) def. Shadi Soleymani (SD), 6-2, 6-0
Kari Sloboth (DU) def. Alex Rios (UCA), 7-5, 6-0
Jessica Aguilera (DU) def. Nicole Nakaoka (CU), 6-0, 6-0
Amanda Aragon (DU) def. Allison Hartman (UCA), 6-4, 6-4
Lindsey Short (UCA) def. Earlynn Lauer (DU), 6-1, 6-1
Sarah Plowman (DU) def. Janea Hagen (SD), 6-0, 6-2

Doubles:
Demos/Aragon (DU) def. Soleymani/Nunez (SD), 8-3
Demos/Aragon (DU) def. Miller/Mainz (UCA), 9-8 (4)
Leszayova/Plowman (DU) def. Sejnic/Rockne (SD), 8-0
Leszayova/Plowman (DU) def. Walker/Gonzalez (UNI), 8-6
Chiarelli/Forsyth (MINN) def. Sloboth/Lauer (DU), 8-1
Aguilera/Rainey (DU) def. Hagen/Waltman (SD), 8-0
Sloboth/Lauer (DU) def. Hartman/Short (SD), 8-6