COLUMBIA, MO. - The Drake women's tennis team turned in one of its best efforts of the young campaign but in the end it was Missouri that escaped with a 4-3 victory over the Bulldogs on Friday (Feb. 20).

Drake fell to 3-6 on the season following the setback, while Missouri moved to 4-2 overall.

“I was very proud of our effort tonight,” Bulldog head coach Urska Juric commented.  “We played some very good tennis.”

After being swept in doubles play, Drake garnered victories in three of the first five singles contests to square the match at three.

Senior Veronika Leszayova (Povazska Bystrica, Slovak Republic) bested Jessica Giuggioli at the No. 1 position, 6-2, 7-5, while freshman Gabriela Demos (Chesterfield, Mo.) registered a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Mallory Weber at the No. 2 slot.

Freshman Amanda Aragon (Fort Collins, Colo.) accounted for Drake's other singles triumph netting a 6-1, 6-3 decision against Maureen Modesto at No. 6.

With the tilt all squared at three, all attention shifted to the No. 5 singles court where Kaitlyn Ritchie withstood senior Kari Sloboth (Omaha, Neb.) en route to clinching the match with a 7-6 (3), 6-0 win.

Drake concludes its road swing with a 6:15 p.m. tilt on Saturday (Feb. 21) at Saint Louis.

MISSOURI (4-2) DEF. DRAKE (3-6), 4-3
FEB. 20, 2009
COLUMBIA, MO.

SINGLES:
No. 1 Veronika Leszayova (DU) def. Jessica Giuggioli (MIZ), 6-2, 7-5
No. 2 Gabriela Demos (DU) def. Mallory Weber (MIZ), 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 Jamie Mera (MIZ) def. Morgan Rainey (DU), 6-0, 6-3
No. 4 Danielle Day (MIZ) def. Jessica Aguilera (DU), 6-4, 6-4
No. 5 Kaitlyn Ritchie (MIZ) def. Kari Sloboth (DU), 7-6 (3), 6-0
No. 6 Amanda Aragon (DU) def. Maureen Modesto (MIZ), 6-1, 6-3

DOUBLES:
No. 1 Mera/Weber (MIZ) def. Leszayova/Sarah Plowman (DU), 8-3
No. 2 Ritchie/Giuggioli (MIZ) def. Demos/Aragon (DU), 8-2
No. 3 Ayala/Day (MIZ) def. Rainey/Aguilera (DU), 8-3