DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's tennis team opens its 2018 season under second-year head coach Mai-Ly Tran on Friday at 2:30 p.m. as the Bulldogs host Creighton at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
 
The Bulldogs return all six letter winners, including three seniors and two juniors.
 
Seniors Summer Brills, Tess Herder and Mela Jaglarz will once again lead the team. Brills, who was named 2017 MVC All-Select Team, recorded a team-best 13 singles wins last spring. Brills will be pushed by Herder for the No. 1 singles spot as Herder earned 10 wins, including a victory at No. 1 last year. Jaglarz will provide experience in the bottom half of the lineup.
 
Juniors Joely Lomas and Kenya Williams add experience in the heart of the lineup as they split time at No. 3 and No. 4 singles last spring. Lomas registered 12 wins and came on strong near the end of the year as she went 7-3 in the last 10 matches of the season.
 
Sophomore Alex Kozlowski took her lumps last year, but earned valuable experience and will use that to solidify the bottom half of the lineup.
 
The Bulldogs welcomes freshmen Liza Petushkova from Moscow, Russia and Megan Webb from Wooton-Under-Edge, England to add much need depth to the lineup.
 
Following Friday's match, Drake will host South Dakota and Augustana (S.D.) on Sunday, Jan. 28.