St. Louis, MO – The Bulldogs took home multiple MVC awards at the awards banquet ahead of the conference tournament. Ines Stephani earned co-Player of the Year with Belmont's Mariia Hlahola, which is back-to-back Player of the Year awards for Stephani. Mille Haagensen was named to the All-Conference first team in the number two singles spot.
 
Stephani compiled a singles record of 15-3 in 2024 competing in the number one singles spot for the Bulldogs. She also won three MVC Player of the Week awards, including back-to-back Singles Player of the Week awards to close the regular season and Doubles Team of the Week in January. Stephani also went 7-1 in MVC singles play.
 
Haagensen led the Bulldogs in singles wins in 2024, notching a 16-4 record. She also dominated the MVC, going 8-0 in conference singles play. The Bulldog junior competed in the second singles spot all season long.
 
The Bulldogs also had two players named to the scholar-athlete teams. Darinka Stepan earned first-team scholar-athlete and Stephani was second-team scholar-athlete.
 
Silvia Pomarolli of Illinois State was Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Vesa Gjinaj of Belmont was Freshman of the Year,  Lana Caculovic of Illinois State was Newcomer of the Year and Jorge Caetano of Murray State was Coach of the Year.
 
Drake will play against Belmont on Friday, April 25 at 10 a.m. in the quarterfinal round of the MVC tournament.