Photo: File photo
After finishing the fall season on a high note, the Drake women’s tennis team is ready to pick up where they left off. The spring season began last Friday in Norman, Okla., taking on Arkansas-Little Rock, followed by facing a No. 25 Oklahoma squad on Saturday.
As expected, Arkansas-Little Rock gave the Bulldogs no troubles, as Drake came out with a decisive 6-1 victory. Senior leader Gabby Demos and doubles partner Manca Krizman swept their doubles competition, allowing the Bulldogs to jump out to an early 1-0 lead. Krizman also participated in the singles competition, coming out victorious in the No. 2 position. Senior Jessica Aguilera was slotted in the six spot for her singles competition, also defeating her opponent, stretching the Bulldog lead to 3-0.
The match was unofficially decided when sophomore Klavdija Rebol, who plays the one position for Bulldog singles, registered a 6-1, 6-0 victory over her Little Rock opponent. Freshman standout Nell Boyd also helped Drake out, being victorious in her No. 4 singles slot. The final Drake victory came from Ali Patterson in the five spot.
The Bulldogs were unable to remain undefeated on the young spring season, falling to a solid Sooner team from Oklahoma. The match didn’t go Drake’s way early, being swept in doubles play, something not many opponents are able to do to Drake.
Drake’s only victory in their 6-1 overall loss came from Krizman, its usual 2 spot singles player. The Bulldogs only had one losing match going to three sets with Aguilera falling at the six spot in singles, 6-2, 6-7, 10-8; all other sets were clean sweeps.
Head coach Paul Thomson was satisfied with his team’s overall weekend play, and happy his team did not go down without a fight against one of the best teams they have faced all year.
The Bulldogs are back in action this Saturday, opening their home spring season by hosting the Mid-America Jamboree Team Dual at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center. Drake faces Northern Illinois at 9 a.m. and SIU Edwardsville at 7 p.m.
