DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's tennis team opened its 2020 schedule with a 4-3 win over Sacramento State on Thursday afternoon at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

The Bulldogs started off the dual strong by securing the doubles point. Joely Lomas and Liza Petushkova won 6-4 while Megan Webb and Kelsey Neville earned a 7-5 victory. Daria Walczak and Maria Tatarnikova lost a close match, 7-6.

Having won two out of three matches, Drake took a 1-0 lead in the dual.

Neville continued the momentum by polishing off her No. 4 singles opponent 6-3, 6-0. The result pushed Drake's lead to 2-0. Sacramento State stayed persistent taking the No. 2 and No. 6 singles matches to even the dual at 2-2.

Tatarnikova contributed another point by winning her No. 3 singles match, 6-2, 6-4 to put Drake back ahead, 3-2. After Sacramento State stole the No. 5 singles match, the dual was deadlocked at 3-3, putting all the chips in the middle for the No. 1 singles result.

Petushkova prevailed in a marathon two-set match, 7-6, 7-5, to give Drake a 4-3 win in the dual.

Drake (1-0) travels to Lawrence, Kan., on Saturday for a showdown with the Kansas Jayhawks.