CHICAGO, Ill. – The Drake women's tennis team came up just shy of another Missouri Valley Conference title as the Bulldogs could not complete their miraculous run at the MVC Championships on Sunday. The Bulldogs fell to No. 2 seed Illinois State, 4-0.
 
The Redbirds were able to take advantage of a shorthanded Drake squad with three wins in as many doubles matches. Lana Caculovic won by default in the third flight before Shiori Takeda and Kristina Tai fell to Nicole Iosio and Nuria Sanz in the second, giving Illinois State a 1-0 overall advantage.
 
Illinois State won another match by default to start singles play as Emma Lindh won at No. 6. Iosio then swept Milana Dejanovic before Vittoria Benedetti gave the Redbirds the clinching point by beating Takeda by a 6-3, 6-4 tally.
 
Drake's magical run in bracket play was stopped, ending its 2026 season at 10-13 overall and 3-4 in league play.
 
Singles Competition
1. Silvia Pomarolli (ILST) vs. Maja Dodik (DU) unfinished
2. Lana Caculovic (ILST) vs. Kristina Tai (DU) unfinished
3. Vittoria Benedetti (ILST) def. Shiori Takeda (DU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Nuria Sanz (ILST) vs. Jordane Dookie (DU) unfinished
5. Nicole Iosio (ISU) def. Milana Dejanovic (DU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Emma Lindh (ISU) won by default
 
Doubles Competition
1. Vittoria Benedetti/Silvia Pomarolli (ILST) vs. Maja Doik/Jordane Dookie (DU) unfinished
2. Nicole Iosio/Nuria Sanz (ILST) def. Shiori Takeda/Kristina Tai (DU) 6-1
3. Lana Caculovic/Emma Lindh (ILST) won by default.