MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Maria Tatarnikova's 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win at No. 4 singles propelled the Drake University women's tennis team to a 4-3 win at Marquette Sunday morning.
 
Drake (7-5) played neck-and-neck with Marquette (5-5) until Tatarnikova prevailed in the final set of her match to earn the road victory.
 
After dropping the doubles point, Ines Stephani, the current MVC Player of the Week, evened the match for the Bulldogs with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles. After a loss at No. singles, Drake's Daria Walczak again tied the match at 2-2 with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles. 
 
After Marquette pulled ahead at 3-2 with a win at No. 1 singles, Maria Tatarnikova closed out her three-set match to give the Bulldogs the road win. 
 
The Bulldogs return home next to begin MVC action against Valparaiso April 3.
 
Drake vs Marquette
3/27/2021 at Milwaukee, Wis.
 
Drake 4, Marquette 3
Singles competition
1. Natalija Popovic (MU) def. Liza Petushkova (DU) 3-6, 7-5, 7-5
2. Daria Walczak (DU) def. Andie Weise (MU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Ines Stephani (DU) def. Giulia Turconi (MU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Maria Tatarnikova (DU) def. Emilija Kojcic (MU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
5. Elisabeth Desmarais (MU) def. Darinka Stepan (DU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
6. Kelsey Neville (DU) def. Tiana Windbuchler (MU) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6
 
Doubles competition
1. Natalija Popovic/Giulia Turconi (MU) def. Maria Tatarnikova/Daria Walczak (DU) 6-2
2. Emilija Kojcic/Andie Weise (MU) def. Kelsey Neville/Megan Webb (DU) 6-2
3. Elisabeth Desmarais/Lara Kaiser (MU) vs. Darinka Stepan/Ines Stephani (DU) unfinished
 
Match Notes:
Drake 7-5
Marquette 5-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1); Singles (3,5,2,1,4)