CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Drake University women's tennis team fell to Missouri State, 4-3, in the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Friday morning.
 
Missouri State entered the event as the league's defending champion and clinched the win at No. 3 singles when Fati Khamissi defeated Drake's Daria Walczak 6-2, 6-6 (7-2) to advance the Bears.
 
Drake started off with a 2-0 lead by virtue of winning a pair of doubles matches followed by a 7-5, 6-1 win by Liza Petushkova at No. 1 singles. However, the Bears followed with three-straight wins at No. 2, 6 and 5 singles to take a 3-2 lead in the match. Drake tied the match at No. 4 singles when Sophia Haleas won 6-3, 6-4 to set up the decisive match at No. 3 singles.
 
The loss ends the Bulldogs' season with a 8-16 overall record this season.
 
Missouri State University 4, Drake 3
Singles competition
1. Liza Petushkova (DU) def. Alye Darter (MSU) 7-5, 6-1
2. Anna Alons (MSU) def. Carmen Palumbo (DU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Fati Khamissi (MSU) def. Daria Walczak (DU) 6-2, 6-6 (7-2)
4. Sophia Haleas (DU) def. Phoebe Boeschen (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Clara Gand-Gonzalez (MSU) def. Kenya Williams (DU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Ellie Burger (MSU) def. Kelsey Neville (DU) 6-2, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Liza Petushkova/Kenya Williams (DU) def. Ellie Burger/Alye Darter (MSU) 6-2
2. Carmen Palumbo/Daria Walczak (DU) def. Phoebe Boeschen/Anna Alons (MSU) 6-1
3. Kelsey Neville/Sophia Haleas (DU) def. Fati Khamissi/Alexia Meyer (MSU) 5-3
 
Match Notes:
Drake 8-15
Missouri State University 10-10
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,2,6,5,4,3)