DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake women's tennis team opens Missouri Valley Conference play on Saturday when the Bulldogs host Northern Iowa at 3 p.m. at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
 
Prior to the match against UNI, the Bulldogs will square off against Upper Iowa at 10 a.m. Drake enters the weekend with a 8-7 record. The Bulldogs last played on March 12 and defeated Northern Illinois in a 4-3 decision. Senior Maddie Johnson leads the team with an 8-3 dual match singles record and is on a four-match winning streak. Johnson and freshman Joely Lomas lead the team with a 6-1 doubles record.
 
UNI hosts Upper Iowa on Friday before coming to Des Moines. Heading into the weekend, the Panthers have dropped six of their last seven matches. UNI is led by Elvira Lopez and Jieke Stroobant, who each have five dual match singles wins. Lopez and Stroobant are the team's top doubles pair, holding a 6-5 record.
 
Upper Iowa has lost four of its last five matches and are coming off a dominating win over Winona State. The Peacocks have four players with eight dual match wins, Kelly Jachymowski, Saki Kawabata, Anna Okolot and Isabella Sella. Jackymowski and Kawabata are the team's best doubles team, posting a 7-1 record.
 
Following the Bulldogs' matches this weekend, Drake will host Iowa for a midweek match on Wednesday, March 30.