The Basics
Drake women's tennis is set to open postseason play tomorrow in the first round of the 2025 MVC Women's Tennis Championship. The Bulldogs enter bracket play as the No. 6 seed and will meet No. 3 Illinois State.
 
Bulldog Breakdown
The Drake women enter this weekend at 5-15 overall and 2-6 in Missouri Valley Conference action. Drake split their final weekend of the regular season with a home win over Missouri State and loss to regular season league champ Murray State on Senior Day.
 
Despite the 1-1 weekend, Drake's freshman duo of Jessica Popiol and Jana Ruzic earned MVC Doubles Team of the Week. Popiol and Ruzic went 2-0 in tandem play to close the regular season.
 
Scouting the Competition
Illinois State brings a 13-7 overall record and 6-2 mark in Valley play into the postseason. The Redbirds won their regular season finale over Belmont after a defeat to UIC in their last road match of the year.
 
The Bulldogs trail 18-10 all-time against Illinois State with losses in the last two tilts. Drake's last win came in 2023, and its last neutral site victory took place in Springfield, Mo. in 2021.
 
Up Next
Friday's winner will advance to the MVC semifinals for a date with the second-seeded UIC Flames on Saturday, Apr. 26 at 2 p.m. Belmont and Northern Iowa face off in the 4/5 matchup on the top of the bracket with No. 1 Murray State awaiting that winner in the semis. The MVC title match will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Apr. 27.