MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Drake women's tennis team completed their first fall matches in the Gopher Invite at the University of Minnesota. The invite was a three-day event that began on Friday, Sept. 20, and continued through Sunday, Sept. 22.
Drake played matches against Minnesota, Marquette, Creighton, St. Thomas, Omaha, South Dakota, University of Chicago, Northern Iowa and Northern Illinois. Drake secured eight victories and lost six matches in total. Drake freshman
Jessica Popiol was a standout, accounting for six victories and winning all three of her singles matches in straight sets. Her weekend was highlighted by a 6-0 second-set victory to seal the match over Kathryn Fang from the University of Chicago.
Popiol also won all of her doubles matches over the weekend. She teamed up with fellow Drake newcomer
Laura Koralnik to win two doubles matches on day two of the invite. She put a stamp on her impressive weekend with a 6-3 rout of Northern Illinois' Kanyanut Sudsaard and Andjela Razantovic alongside teammate
Nicole Lee. The other two Drake victories were picked up by Lee and Koralnik in a doubles match on day one and Koralnik in a singles match on day three.
Day 1 Results
Day 2 Results
Day 3 Results
- Jessica Popiol (Drake) defeated Kanyanut Sudsaard (Northern Iowa) 6-4, 6-2
- Laura Koralnik (Drake) defeated Paula Arcarons (Omaha) 6-2, 6-1
- Isabelle Righi (Northern Illinois) defeated Nicole Lee (Drake) 6-3, 6-2
- Nicole Lee and Jessica Popiol (Drake) defeated Kanyanut Sudsaard and Andjela Razantovic (Northern Illinois) 6-3