CEDAR FALLS, IOWA - The Drake women's tennis team opened its Missouri Valley Conference slate with a bang on Sunday (March 29) as the Bulldogs downed in-state rival Northern Iowa, 6-1.

The victory extended the Bulldogs' winning streak to four straight matches and enabled Drake to move to 7-8 overall and 1-0 in league action.  The loss dropped the Panthers to 11-4 on the year, including 0-1 in MVC play.

On the strength of an 8-6 victory by the tandem of senior Kari Sloboth (Omaha, Neb.) and freshman Gabriela Demos (Chesterfield, Mo.) at the No. 3 doubles slot over Jessica Kunzelmann and Taynara Moraes, Drake captured the doubles point to accrue a lead it didn't relinquish.

Senior Veronika Leszayova (Povazska Bystrica, Slovak Republic) and Demos extended the margin to 3-0 with victories at the top two singles holes.  Leszayova bettered Laia Gonzalez-Garrido at No. 1, 6-4, 6-2, while Demos dealt Phoebe Walker a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 setback at No. 2.

Clinching Drake's first victory over Northern Iowa under third-year head coach Urska Juric was freshman Jessica Aguilera (Santa Cruz, Bolivia), who registered a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Kunzelmann at the No. 4 slot.

The Bulldogs also garnered wins at the bottom two singles holes from Sloboth and freshman Amanda Aragon (Fort Collins, Colo.).  Sloboth bested Moraes, 6-0, 7-6 (3), while Aragon downed Diana Mendez, 6-2, 6-3.

Drake returns to action on Saturday (April 4) as the Bulldogs host Southern Illinois in a 1:00 p.m. matinee affair.

DRAKE (7-8, 1-0 MVC) DEF. NORTHERN IOWA (11-4, 0-1 MVC), 6-1
MARCH 29, 2009
CEDAR FALLS, IOWA

SINGLES:
No. 1 Veronika Leszayova (DU) def. Laia Gonzalez-Garrido (UNI), 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 Gabriela Demos (DU) def. Phoebe Walker (UNI), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
No. 3 Sampada Kanade (UNI) def. Morgan Rainey (DU), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
No. 4 Jessica Aguilera (DU) def. Jessica Kunzelmann (UNI), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
No. 5 Kari Sloboth (DU) def. Taynara Moraes (UNI), 6-0, 7-6 (3)
No. 6 Amanda Aragon (DU) def. Diana Mendez (UNI), 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish (1,2,4,3,5,6)

DOUBLES:
No. 1 Mendez/Kanade (UNI) def. Jessica Labarte/Aragon (DU), 9-7
No. 2 Leszayova/Rainey (DU) def. Gonzalez-Garrido/Walker (UNI), 8-6
No. 3 Demos/Sloboth (DU) def. Kunzelmann/Moraes (UNI), 8-6
Order of finish (1,2,3)