DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's tennis team collected its first win of the season with a 4-3 victory over visiting South Dakota Saturday morning at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
 
The Bulldogs (1-1) won the doubles point with three-straight victories in doubles action over the Coyotes (1-2).
 
Daria Walczak, Ines Stephani and Darinka Stepan all picked up singles wins in their matches. Stepan, a freshman, won the clinching match for the Bulldogs with a 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 victory at No. 5 singles over Anna Marija Bukina.
 
Walczak won her match at No. 3 by a 6-3, 6-2 margin and Stephani prevailed at No. 4, 6-4, 6-0.
 
The Bulldogs continue their season next week with a pair of matches in Kansas at Kansas State (Feb. 12) and Wichita State (Feb. 13).
 
Drake 4, South Dakota 3
Feb 06, 2021 at Des Moines, Iowa (Roger Knapp Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Jana Lazarevic (USD) def. Liza Petushkova (DU) 6-2, 6-7, 6-4
2. Habiba Aly (USD) def. Maria Tatarnikova (DU) 7-6, 6-1
3. Daria Walczak (DU) def. Natka Kmoskova (USD) 6-3, 6-2
4. Ines Stephani (DU) def. Yulia Almiron Solano (USD) 6-4, 6-0
5. Darinka Stepan (DU) def. Anna Marija Bukina (USD) 6-4, 0-6, 7-6
6. Berta Girbau (USD) def. Kendall Hunt (DU) 6-3, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Liza Petushkova/Maria Tatarnikova (DU) def. Jana Lazarevic/Anna Marija Bukina (USD) 6-4
2. Megan Webb/Kelsey Neville (DU) def. Natka Kmoskova/Habiba Aly (USD) 6-3
3. Darinka Stepan/Ines Stephani (DU) def. Berta Girbau/Yulia Almiron Solano (USD) 6-4
 
Match Notes
South Dakota 1-2
Drake 1-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,2,3,6,1,5)