NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Drake University women's tennis opened Missouri Valley Conference action on the road this weekend with back-to-back matches. The Bulldogs slipped up on Saturday before a bounce back win on Sunday.
 
Murray State 4, Drake 3
Drake began its road trip with a narrow 4-3 loss at Murray State on Saturday. The Bulldogs scratched out an early advantage via the doubles point but faltered in the final few singles matches to suffer the loss.
 
Maja Dodik and Jordane Dookie combined for a win in the No. 1 doubles match, which was mirrored by Murray State's Valeria Chaikovskaia and Sofia Issakova at No. 3. Drake's No. 2 duo of Kristina Tai and Elizabete Klavinska came through in the clutch with a victory to secure the team tally.
 
The Racers rebounded with the first two wins of singles play before Dodik notched another for the Dogs. The Bulldogs' top player took down Chaikovskaia by a 6-1, 6-2 score.
 
Tai later edged Yuna Kadowaki in the second position for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 result, but Murray State managed two more victories to reach the final 4-3 score.
 
Singles Competition
1. Maja Dodik (DU) def. Valeria Chaikovskaia (MURR) 6-1, 6-2
2. Kristina Tai (DU) def. Yuna Kadowaki (MURR) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
3. Yu Kikawa (MURR) def. Shiori Takeda (DU) 6-1, 5-7, 7-6
4. Sofia Issakova (MURR) def. Jordane Dookie (DU) 6-2, 6-0
5. Bruna Melato (MURR) def. Elizabete Klavinska (DU) 6-0, 7-6
6. Rebecca Widan (MURR) def. Milana Dejanovic (DU) 6-4, 6-1
 
Doubles Competition
1. Maja Dodik/Jordane Dookie (DU) def. Bruna Melato/Barbora Hermanova (MURR) 6-1
2. Kristina Tai/Elizabete Klavinska (DU) def. Yuna Kadowaki/Yu Kikawa (MURR) 7-6
3. Valeria Chaikovskaia/Sofia Issakova (MURR) def. Shiori Takeda/Milana Dejanovic (DU) 6-3
 
Drake 6, Belmont 1
The Bulldogs bounced back on Sunday with a convincing victory over Belmont. Drake dominated nearly from start to finish, including victories in five of six singles bouts.
 
Belmont managed a win in the final doubles clash, but Drake comfortably took the first two. Elizabete Klavinska and Kristina Tai won, 6-1, in the No. 2 match while Shiori and Takeda and Milana Dejanovic triumphed in the No. 3 battle.
 
As the match shifted to singles play, Drake stayed in a rhythm. Klavinska started things off with a straight-set win in the sixth spot before Cielo Tapia-Cruz earned the Bruins' only points with a 6-3, 6-4 result.
 
The Bulldogs cruised from there. Dookie, Dodik, and Takeda all won in three-set matches with Takeda's coming over former Bulldog Jessica Popiol. Milana Dejanovic provided the clinching point with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Libbie Hamilton in the No. 5 fixture.
 
Singles Competition
1. Maja Dodik (DU) def. Savannah Webster (BEL) 6-7(2-7), 6-2, 6-4
2. Cielo Tapia-Cruz (BEL) def. Kristina Tai (DU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Shiori Takeda (DU) def. Jessica Popiol (BEL) 7-6(7-5), 0-6, 7-5
4. Jordane Dookie (DU) def. Emma Grant (BEL) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
5. Milana Dejanovic (DU) def. Libbie Hamilton (BEL) 6-4, 6-4
6. Elizabete Klavinska (DU) def. Annika Warkentin (BEL) 6-1, 6-0
 
Doubles Competition
1. Savannah Webster/Jessica Popiol (BEL) def. Maja Dodik/Jordane Dookie (DU) 6-2
2. Elizabete Klavinska/Kristina Tai (DU) def. Cielo Tapia-Cruz/Emma Grant (BEL) 6-1
3. Shiori Takeda/Milana Dejanovic (DU) def. Ketevan Jeladze/Hana Sokolovic (BEL) 6-2
 
Drake will conclude its road stretch next weekend with an Apr. 5 trip to Cedar Falls for a date with rival UNI.