DES MOINES, IOWA - Illinois State proved too much of a challenge for the Drake women's tennis team to overcome as the Bulldogs dropped a 7-0 decision to the Redbirds on Sunday (April 18) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

Illinois State assumed a lead it didn't relinquish sweeping all three doubles contests to take a 1-0 advantage into singles action.

The Bulldogs were unable to maintain any threat in singles play as the Redbirds captured wins in all six affairs.  Only junior Jessica Labarte (Barcelona, Venezuela) was able to register more than four points in a set.

The Bulldogs open play at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship on Friday (April 23) in Wichita, Kan.  Drake's opponent has yet to be determined with the league announcing the tournament draw on Monday (April 19).

ILLINOIS STATE (16-5, 6-1 MVC) DEF. DRAKE (7-11, 2-5 MVC), 7-0

APRIL 18, 2010 - DES MOINES, IOWA

ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER

SINGLES:

No. 1 Aniko Kiss (ILST) def. Manca Krizman (DU), 6-1, 6-3

No. 2 Franziska Steinhardt (ILST) def. Gabriela Demos (DU), 6-1, 6-0

No. 3 Julia Zubkova (ILST) def. Jessica Aguilera (DU), 6-2, 6-3

No. 4 Natalia Lech (ILST) def. Jessica Labarte (DU), 6-4, 6-1

No. 5 Ariane Maack (ILST) def. Amanda Aragon (DU), 6-1, 6-1

No. 6 Hannah Esker (ILST) def. Earlynn Lauer (DU), 6-0, 6-0

Order of finish: (6,2,5,1,3,4)

DOUBLES:

No. 1 Steinhardt/Zubkova (ILST) def. Demos/Krizman (DU), 8-4

No. 2 Lech/Maack (ILST) def. Aguilera/Aragon (DU), 8-4

No. 3 Esker/Carmen Peters (ILST) def. Lauer/Labarte (DU), 8-1

Order of finish (3,2,1)