LINCOLN, Neb. – The Bulldog women's tennis team wrapped up a weekend in Nebraska after splitting a pair of matches Drake opened the trip with a persistent win over Creighton before a decisive loss in Lincoln.
 
Drake 4, Creighton 3
Drake needed a come-from-behind effort to upend the Creighton Bluejays in Omaha on Friday afternoon. Creighton jumped out in front after earning the doubles points with a win in the top spot and another via forfeit.
 
The Bulldogs' comeback effort started with a prompt 6-4, 6-3 win by Ines Stephani at No. 1. Nicole Lee picked up another two-set win at the No. 5 spot to put Drake on top in the match.
 
After a couple Bluejay wins, Drake slammed the door with a pair of comeback singles wins by Mille Haagensen and Darinka Stepan at No. 2 and No. 4, respectively. Despite giving Creighton a win by forfeit in the sixth spot, drake held on for the 4-3 win.
 
"I was really happy we were able to right the ship [on Friday]," Drake head coach Breaunna Addison said. "Our goal heading into the match was to play better and tougher than the opponent across the net, and we did just that. Injuries have been a major storyline for us this semester, but we did a great job focusing on the controllable and competing."
 
Nebraska 7, Drake 0
The weekend finale was a much different story than Friday's tilt as Drake ran into a high-level Cornhusker squad. Nebraska used another pair of forfeit wins and swept all other matches to earn the shutout.
 
Stephani provided the firmest resistance in the No. 1 singles position but could not do enough against Nebraska's top player Raphaelle Lacasse. Haagensen and Ehn also showed their grit but were still fell in the second and third spots.
 
"Put simply, we were outmatched," Addison said after Saturday's match. "To our credit, we did our best to hang tough, made them earn it, however Nebraska was stingy and confident and determined on the deciding points. It's a tough loss, but we recognized some areas we can improve on individually heading int our next matches."
 
Drake's road stretch continues next weekend with an eastern swing. The Bulldogs will visit the Commonwealth of Virginia for road matches at James Madison on Sunday, Mar. 10 and Richmond on Monday, Mar. 11.
 
 
 
SINGLES vs. CREIGHTON
1. Ines Stephani (DU) def. Malvika Shukla (CU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Mille Haagensen (DU) def. Valerie Negin (CU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
3. Siri Kongara (CU) def. Rebecca Ehn (DU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Darinka Stepan (DU) def. Annika Elvestrom (CU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
5. Nicole Lee (DU) def. Allison Wilcox (CU) 7-5, 6-2
6. Elsa Jurrens (CU) won by forfeit
 
DOUBLES vs. CREIGHTON
1. Malvika Shukla/Valerie Negin (CU) def. Rebecca Ehn/Ines Stephani (DU) 6-4
2. Darinka Stepan/Mille Haagensen (DU) def. Siri Kongara/Annika Elvestrom (CU) 6-2
3. Jeanne Garrity/Allison Wilcox (CU) won by forfeit
 
 
SINGLES vs. NEBRASKA
1. Raphaelle Lacasse (NEB) def. Ines Stephani (DU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Isabel Androver Gallego (NEB) def. Mille Haagensen (DU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Maja Pietrowicz (NEB) def. Rebecca Ehn (DU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Ana Zamburek (NEB) def. Darinka Stepan (DU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Maria Taranova (NEB) def. Nicole Lee (DU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Lucy Loy (NEB) won by forfeit
 
DOUBLES vs. NEBRASKA
1. Raphaelle Lacasse/Maja Pietrowicz (NEB) def. Ines Stephani/Rebecca Ehn (DU) 6-0
2. Isa Androver Gallego/Lucy Loy (NEB) vs. Darinka Stepan/Mille Haagensen (DU) DNF
3. Jillian Roa/Maria Taranova (NEB) won by forfeit.