NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Drake University women's tennis team (12-7, 5-1) powered through a weather-induced adjustment to defeat MVC-newcomer Belmont by a 4-1 margin this afternoon.
Due to inclement weather, the match between Drake and the Bruins was moved inside. Limited court space forced the two teams to begin with singles competition.
Ines Stephani starred in the top spot for Drake, defeating the Bruins' ace Mariia Hlahola 6-2, 6-0.
Mille Haagensen and
Elizabete Klavinska also earned victories for the Bulldogs in the No. 2 and No. 3 positions, respectively.
Oriana Parkins-Godwin continued her stellar freshman campaign with the match-clinching win. She took down Belmont's Viktoria Kliimand 6-4, 6-2 in the No. 5 match.
"I'm so pleased with the way we competed today," Drake head coach Breaunna Addison said after the match. "The rain presented a challenge and we had to quickly shift indoors but stayed focused. I want to credit Elizabete [Klavinska] for her adaptability and grit today…she found a way to level her match from 4-1 down and never looked back. That gave our team a lot of energy. Also, Mille [Haagensen] for fighting back in her match. It put a stamp on the match and helped us finish strong."
Drake will remain away from home their next match, their final tilt on the road this season. The Bulldogs will take on rival UNI in Waterloo, Iowa next Saturday, Apr. 15, at 1 pm.
SINGLES VS. MISSOURI STATE (ORDER OF FINISH – 1, 4, 3, 5, 2, 6)
- Ines Stephani (DU) def. Mariia Hlahola (BEL) 6-2, 6-0
- Mille Haagensen (DU) def. Abi Solomon (BEL) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
- Elizabete Klavinska (DU) def. A. Zholdakova (BEL) 6-4, 6-3
- Meredith Roberts (BEL) def. Darinka Stepan (BEL) 6-3, 6-4
- Oriana Parkins-Godwin (DU) def. Viktoria Kliimand (BEL) 6-4, 6-2
- EXHIBTION: Taylor Trondson (BEL) def. Jyun-Yi Lee (DU) 8-4
