DES MOINES, Iowa - Overcoming an early 1-0 deficit, the Drake women's tennis team opened Missouri Valley Conference play registering a come-from-behind 4-3 triumph over Northern Iowa on Saturday (March 31) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

"I was extremely proud of our effort today as everyone continued to fight and there was never any quit in our play," Drake head coach Paul Thomson commented.  "We have a couple of things to clean up this week, but we're excited to continue conference play next weekend."

Doubles play came down to the wire as the Panthers' duo of Jessica Kunzelmann and Nina Pfahler notched a 7-5 decision over senior Jessica Aguilera (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) and sophomore Klavdija Rebol (Kranj, Slovenia) in the tiebreaker at No. 2, to post a 9-8 (5) victory and claim the doubles point.

On the strength of her 23rd-straight win in singles play, junior Manca Krizman (Solkan, Slovenia), the current MVC Player of the Week, squared the affair at one, after dispatching Pfahler at the top slot, 6-0, 6-2.

Kunzelmann eased Northern Iowa back into the lead, 2-1, after downing senior Gabriela Demos (Chesterfield, Mo.) at No. 3, 6-3, 6-1.

Aguilera followed by erasing the deficit at the No. 5 position, besting Krissy Lankelma, 6-3, 6-1.

Junior Ali Patterson (Overland Park, Kan.) gave the Bulldogs the lead for good recording a 6-1, 6-4 decision over Stefannia Sampaio at No. 6.

Clinching Drake's first victory over the Panthers since the 2009 campaign was Rebol, who conquered Cassandra Dix at the No. 2 position, 6-4, 6-2.

Freshman Nell Boyd (Arlington Heights, Ill.) came up just short in her bid for a win at No. 4 as Chelsea Moore posted a 0-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5) triumph.

Drake hosts Bradley on Friday (April 6) in a 5:00 p.m. tilt at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

DRAKE (17-4, 1-0 MVC) DEF. NORTHERN IOWA (10-6, 0-1 MVC), 4-3

MARCH 31, 2012 • ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER

SINGLES

No. 1 Manca Krizman (DU) def. Nina Pfahler (UNI), 6-0, 6-2

No. 2 Klavdija Rebol (DU) def. Cassandra Dix (UNI), 6-4, 6-2

No. 3 Jessica Kunzelmann (UNI) def. Gabriela Demos (DU), 6-3, 6-1

No. 4 Chelsea Moore (UNI) def. Nell Boyd (DU), 0-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5)

No. 5 Jessica Aguilera (DU) def. Krissy Lankelma (UNI), 6-3, 6-1

No. 6 Ali Patterson (DU) def. Stefannia Sampaio (UNI), 6-1, 6-4

ORDER OF FINISH:  (1,3,5,6,2,4)

DOUBLES:

No. 1 Demos/Krizman (DU) Dix/Lankelma (UNI), 8-4

No. 2 Kunzelmann/Pfahler (UNI) def. Aguilera/Rebol (DU), 9-8 (5)

No. 3 Moore/Sampaio (UNI) def. Amanda Aragon/Boyd (DU), 8-3

ORDER OF FINISH:  (1,3,2)