Story by Taylor Soule

Photo by Luke Nankivell

The Drake women’s tennis team swept Missouri Valley Conference rival Creighton 7-0 on Saturday at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 Valley record. Though the Bluejays challenged Drake in several matches, the young Bulldogs kept composure to take a second step toward their MVC Championship goal.

Drake recorded comfortable wins in all three doubles matches to take the momentum early.

At the No. 1 spot, freshman Jordan Eggleston and junior Klavdija Rebol garnered an 8-4 victory over the Bluejays’ Anna Kirshenbaum and Analese Snyder. Freshmen Maddie Johnson and Lea Kozulic registered an 8-2 win at the No. 2 position over Creighton’s Jennie Hartjes and Amanda Noonan.

The No. 3 doubles team of freshman Mariel Ante and senior Ali Patterson sealed a 1-0 Bulldog lead with an 8-4 decision versus Liz Vermillion and Sam Anderson.

That early momentum led to wins at every singles spot, but the Bulldogs faced a couple tense moments against Creighton.

At the No. 1 singles spot, Rebol dispatched Hartjes comfortably, 6-3, 6-0. A back-and-forth affair took place at No. 2, though, as freshman Evy Van Genechten edged Snyder, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 10-7.

Kozulic defeat Kirshembaum at No. 3, 6-3, 6-3. At No. 4, Johnson defeat Noonan, 6-2, 6-1.

Boyd and Ante rounded out the Bulldog roster with straight-sets victories.

Boyd beat Vermillion, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5. At No. 6, Ante registered a close 7-6 (4), 6-3 win over the Bluejays’ Taylor Koehrsen.

Drake faces MVC foe Southern Illinois on Saturday at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center. The Salukis have already emerged as the Valley team to beat in 2013, so Drake faces a tough task.

The Bulldogs played MVC rival Wichita State on Sunday at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center. Results from that match will be available in the next issue of The Times-Delphic.