SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Drake University women's tennis team is set to play at the Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships Oct. 6-7 in Springfield, Mo.
 
Six Drake players will be in singles action led by sophomore Carmen Palumbo who will play the winner of Alye Darter (Missouri State) and Sandra Maletin (Bradley) in Flight 1. Freshman Daria Walczak will face either Anna Alons (Missouri State) or Claire Czerwonka (Valparaiso) in Flight 2. Sophomore Liza Petushkova will play the winner of Fati Khamissi (Missouri State) or Harri Proudfoot (UNI) in Flight 3. Junior Sophia Haleas will take on either Ellie Burger (Missouri State) and Malini Wijesinghe (Bradley) in Flight 4. Freshman Kelsey Neville will draw the winner of Nicola Perlwitz (Bradley) or Vale Caro (UNI) in Flight 5. Sophomore Megan Webb is the Bulldogs' final single as she will play Mara Prescott (Missouri State) or Daisy Phillips (UNI) in Flight 6. Petushkova won the 2017 MVC Flight 5 championship while Webb was the 2017 Flight 6 runner-up. All six Bulldogs received first round byes so singles play will begin Saturday for them.
 
Palumbo and Petushkova will face the winner of Missouri State's Burger/Alons or UNI's Lynch/Toledo in Doubles Flight 1. Haleas and Walczak will play the winner of Missouri State's Meyer/Khamissi or Valpo's Wind/Paradise in Flight 2. Neville and Webb will draw the winner of UNI's Merrick/Fain or Valpo's Schoolcraft/Modesto in Flight 3. Petushkova captured the 2017 MVC Flight 2 Doubles title with senior Kenya Williams.
 
Along with Drake, six additional MVC teams – Bradley, Illinois State, Missouri State, Stony Brook, UNI and Valparaiso complete the field.
 
Play will begin Saturday for the Bulldogs at 9 a.m. at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield.
 
Following the MVC Individuals, Drake will conclude its fall campaign at the ITA Regional Championship, Oct. 12-16 in Iowa City, Iowa.