The Basics
Drake women's tennis will start its Missouri Valley Conference title back-to-back matches this weekend. The Bulldogs will serve up the season at Kansas State on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 1 pm. Drake will then turn around and return to Des Moines to host Wichita State on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 1 pm.
Scouting the Competition
Kansas State is looking for an improved run in the 2024 season after finishing at the bottom of last year's Big 12 standings. The Wildcats went 2-20 overall and 0-9 in conference action a year ago and are riding an 11-match losing streak dating back to 2023. Their last win came on Mar. 1, 2023 in a home tilt against Kansas City. K-State lost its top three individual players but returns a handful of contributors. Vanesa Suarez comes back after a 9-14 stint last season and is the only returner to log time in the top two positions. Other returners include Aleena Quamar, Maria Santos, and Manami Ukita. Suarez and Ukita also teamed up to pick up a pair of doubles wins last year.
Drake will be looking for its first-ever win over K-State on Saturday as the Wildcats lead the all-time series, 7-0. The Bulldogs are 0-6 all-time in Manhattan, Kan.
Wichita State has already started its 2024 spring schedule with a road match at No. 13 Oklahoma. The Shockers fell by a 6-1 margin and will battle Creighton in Omaha before visiting Drake. WSU returns a handful of key components from last seasons' 12-10 Kristina Kudryavtseva and Theodora Chantava, both finished last year above .500 individually. Other returners include Jessica Anzo, Clara Whitaker, and Natsumi Kurahashi. Freshman Anne Knuettel earned the Shockers' only win vs. Oklahoma.
The Bulldogs also trail in the all-time series with Wichita State, 14-4. Drake won the first three meetings in the series from 2004-06 before the Shockers rattled off 13-straight. Drake's last win came in the 2021-22 season and Wichita State won the most recent battle last year.
Bulldog Outlook
Head coach
Breaunna Addison is in her second year at the helm of the Drake women's tennis program. Addison's squad lost just two members from last year's championship run. The Bulldogs' experience is highlighted by 2023 MVC Player of the Year
Ines Stephani. She is joined by
Darinka Stepan,
Mille Haagensen,
Nicole Lee,
Elizabete Klavinska,
Oriana Parkins-Godwin, and
Rebecca Ehn.
Haagensen and Stepan teamed up this fall for an MVC Doubles championship.
Up Next
Drake will have another home-and-away weekend when they host Milwaukee on Friday, Jan. 26 before traveling to the same city on Sunday, Jan. 28 for a bout at Marquette.
