Drake's Record-Breaking Campaign Draws To A Close With 4-0 Setback

OMAHA, Neb. - The Drake women's tennis team fell short of its bid to play in its initial State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship title match appearance since 2001, as Illinois State handed the Bulldogs a 4-0 setback in the semifinal round on Saturday (April 28).

Drake finished its most successful season in school history with a 22-7 record, while seniors Jessica Aguilera (Santa Cruz, Bolivia), Amanda Aragon (Fort Collins, Colo.), Gabriela Demos (Chesterfield, Mo.) and Earlynn Lauer (Wichita, Kan.), along with junior Manca Krizman (Solkan, Slovenia) concluded their Bulldog' careers with the decision versus the Redbirds.

Illinois State has proven to be Drake's postseason nemesis in recent years, as the Redbirds have ended the Bulldogs' postseason run in five of the six seasons.

Illinois State took advantage in doubles registering victories at the top-two doubles slots to secure the doubles tally.

The Redbirds carried over their momentum into singles action, recording wins at the Nos. 1, 2 and 4 positions to earn the victory.

In a matches that weren't finished, Aguilera led Stefanie Youngberg at No. 5, 7-6, 2-0, while junior Ali Patterson (Overland Park, Kan.) won her second set at No. 6 against Hannah Esker, 6-4, after dropping the initial set, 6-1.

ILLINOIS STATE (13-11) DEF. DRAKE (22-7), 4-0

APRIL 28, 2012 • OMAHA, NEB.

SINGLES:

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

No. 2 Emmie Marx (ILST) def. Klavdija Rebol (DU), 6-1, 6-2

No. 3 Phyllis Tigges (ILST) led Gabriela Demos (DU), 7-5, 3-2 unfinished

No. 4 Carolina Abello (ILST) def. Nell Boyd (DU), 6-2, 6-3

No. 5 Jessica Aguilera (DU) led Stefanie Youngberg (ILST), 7-6, 2-0 unfinished

No. 6 Ali Patterson (DU) vs. Hannah Esker (ILST), 1-6, 6-4 unfinished

Order of finish: (2,1,4)

DOUBLES:

No. 1 Kiss/Marx (ILST) def. Demos/Krizman (DU), 8-6