URBANDALE, Iowa – The Drake University women's tennis team opened a busy weekend with a closely contested loss to Iowa State, 5-2, on Friday afternoon at Lifetime Fitness.
The Cyclones began the dual by knocking off
Kelsey Neville/
Maria Tatarnikova, 6-2, and
Carmen Palumbo/
Megan Webb, 6-3, to claim the doubles point.
Liza Petushkova and
Joely Lomas continued their hot streak for Drake by defeating No. 45 Thasaporn Naklo/Christin Hsieh, 7-6 (14-12).
Petushkova and Lomas, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Doubles Team of the Week, have won four matches in a row and are 5-1 together this season.
Iowa State increased its lead to 2-0 after Thasaporn, the No. 87 singles player, bested Tatarnikova, 0-6, 1-6. The Cyclones then clinched the dual victory with decisions over Neville, 6-2, 6-3, and Walczak, 6-2, 6-2.
Drake fought valiantly to the finish line, however, with Petushkova winning by retirement at No. 1 and Webb collecting a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 6. Lomas lost at No. 3, 2-6, 5-7, to bring Iowa State's margin of victory to 5-2.
The Bulldogs (2-4) face a quick turnaround as they host Milwaukee on Saturday at 11 a.m. and Gustavus Adolphus on Sunday at 9 a.m. Both matches will take place at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
