The Drake University women's tennis team suffered its first Missouri Valley Conference loss of the season with a 4-3 setback at Bradley Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bulldogs scored all three points in singles action at Nos. 3-5 singles with wins from Ines Stephani, Maria Tatarnikova and Darinka Stepan. All three prevailed in straight sets with Stephani winning at No. 3, 6-3, 6-3, Tatarnikova at No 4., 6-4, 6-4 and Stepan at No. 5, 7-2, 7-5.
 
Nikki Perlwitz's win at No. 6 singles for Bradley sealed the win for the Braves as her 6-3, 6-4 victory clinched Bradley's fourth point.
 
Drake dropped to 2-1 in the MVC with the loss and 8-6 overall. The Bulldogs continue their roadtrip to central Illinois Sunday with a 10 a.m. match at Illinois State.
 
Drake vs Bradley
Bradley 4, Drake 3
 
Singles competition
1. Maletin, Sandra (BRAD) def. Liza Petushkova (DU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Lojpur, Bozana (BRAD) def. Daria Walczak (DU) 6-1, 7-5
3. Ines Stephani (DU) def. Sanchez Bronzetti, V (BRAD) 6-3, 6-3
4. Maria Tatarnikova (DU) def. Bezmenova, Maria (BRAD) 6-4, 6-4
5. Darinka Stepan (DU) def. Barbery, Natalia (BRAD) 6-2, 7-5
6. Perlwitz, Nikki (BRAD) def. Kelsey Neville (DU) 6-3, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Maletin, Sandra/Sanchez Bronzetti, V (BRAD) def. Liza Petushkova/Maria Tatarnikova (DU) 6-4
2. Bezmenova, Maria/Marjanovic, Nina (BRAD) def. Kelsey Neville/Daria Walczak (DU) 6-3
3. Lojpur, Bozana/Perlwitz, Nikki (BRAD) def. Darinka Stepan/Ines Stephani (DU) 7-5
Match Notes:
 
Drake 8-6, 2-1 MVC
Bradley 7-6, 1-2 MVC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,4,3,2,6)