The Basics
Drake women's tennis has two matches on tap in the Commonwealth of Virginia against James Madison and Richmond. The Bulldogs will play JMU on Sunday, Mar. 10 at 11 a.m., and conclude their Virginia visit against Richmond on Monday, Mar. 11 at noon.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake women's tennis is 4-6 in 2024 and 2-3 on the road. Last time out, the Bulldogs beat Creighton and lost to Nebraska in two road affairs.
The Bulldog win against Creighton was a come-from-behind victory.
Mille Haagensen and
Darinka Stepan capped off the win with consecutive singles victories.
Ines Stephani and
Nicole Lee also won singles matches against Creighton. Drake then battled against the 9-1 Nebraska Huskers but was shut out in the contest.
Scouting the Competition
James Madison has had ups and downs this season that have led to a 3-5 record. The Dukes began the season with two losses then they won back-to-back matches. Following the win streak, JMU lost three consecutive matches before defeating Radford 6-1 in its most recent affair.
The Dukes' top singles slot is occupied by Daria Munteanu, a sophomore from Romania. Munteanu defeated her Radford opponent in straight sets in her most recent competition. James Madison women's tennis also features a nationally ranked doubles tandem. Catherine Broerman and Hope Moulin are ranked No. 56 by ITA. The duo improved their record to 6-6 with a commanding 6-1 win over their Radford counterpart.
The match against James Madison is the inaugural meeting between Drake and James Madison women's tennis.
The Richmond Spiders women's tennis is 3-3 in their 2024 campaign. The Spiders' last game was a 4-0 victory over George Mason. Richmond's splits show they play better at home, as they have a 2-0 home record and a 1-3 road record. Early in the season, Richmond faced No. 12 Virginia and lost 4-0.
Carly Cohen is the top Spiders singles competitor. In her most recent match, Cohen took down her George Mason counterpart 6-4, 7-5 in straight sets. Claire Du Lu and Elizabeth Novak team up to form the Spiders' top doubles duo. The two won their last match against GMU 6-2.
The match against Richmond will complete the Bulldogs' week of firsts, as the Monday match is the first contest ever between Drake and Richmond women's tennis.
Up Next
Drake will begin Missouri Valley Conference play against Valparaiso on Saturday, Mar. 23 at 1 p.m. on the road. The Bulldogs will then travel to Chicago, Ill. to continue MVC play against UIC on Sunday, Mar. 24 at noon.
