ORLANDO, Fla. – Drake women's tennis traveled to the tropics for its non-conference finale. The Bulldogs took on Morgan State with a chance to get one match closer to the .500 mark, but the Bears had the upper hand in a 4-3 result.
 
The Bears grabbed the first bit of momentum with a doubles win in the No. 3 spot as Tyler Williams and Damla Arslan taking down Kristina Tai and Milana Dejanovic. But the Bulldogs bounced right back with two swift wins to earn the match advantage.
 
Maja Dodik and Jordane Dookie combined for a win in the top tandem spot while Shiori Takeda and Elizabete Klavinska won at No. 3, both by scores of 6-3, to put the Bulldogs up 1-0.
 
Williams and Arslan eventually lifted Morgan State back in front with two singles wins before Dejanovic, Drake's No. 6 player, beat Roua Limem in three sets.
 
Dodik followed with a 6-2, 6-0 win in the first match over Michaela Stephens, but that was all Drake could manage the rest of the way. Marta Serra Carles and Julia Jeffrey beat Tai and Takeda, respectively, to reach the 4-3 final tally.
 
The Bulldogs will dive into Missouri Valley Conference play next weekend with road matches at Murray State (Mar. 28) and Belmont (Mar. 29)
 
 
Singles Competition
1. Maja Dodik (DU) def. Stephens (MORG) 6-2, 6-0
2. Julia Jeffrey (MORG) def. Shiori Takeda (DU) 7-6, 6-1
3. Marta Serra Carles (MORG) def. Kristina Tai (DU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Damla Arslan (MORG) def. Jordane Dookie (DU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Tyler Williams (MORG) def. Elizabete Klavinska (DU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Milana Dejanovic (DU) def. Roua Limem (MORG) 6-0, 5-7, 10-6
 
Doubles Competition
1. Maja Dodik/Jordane Dookie (DU) def. Lauryn Hall/Marta Serra Carles (MORG) 6-3
2. Shiori Takeda/Elizabete Klavinska (DU) def. Julia Jeffrey/Stephens (MORG) 6-3
3. Tyler Williams/Damla Arslan (MORG) def. Kristina Tai/Milana Dejanovic (DU) 6-4