Drake women’s tennis team scores second win of the spring season
After a successful fall season, the Drake women’s tennis team was eager to get back on the court to start the spring season. The team have competed three times at home so far, picking up two wins along the way.
The team began the season, losing 7–0 to No. 22-ranked Iowa State. The team earned its first home win against the University of South Dakota on January 15.
The Bulldogs took to the courts at 11 a.m. on Jan. 15 and got off to a fast start with Ines Stephani and Oriana Parkins-Godwin earning a 6-1 double-two win.
Darinka Stepan and Mille Haagensen helped secure the doubles point with a 7-5 doubles one victory. The double three remained unfinished as the team’s wins in doubles one and two clinched the overall point before a double three match was needed.
The Bulldogs also found success in their singles matches, which began with a 6-2, 6-0 win by Parkins-Godwin over Anna Medvyedyeva in singles five.
In the first singles, Stephani won with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Haagensen clinched the win for the Bulldogs after securing a 6-0, 6-2 two-single victory.
Elizabete Klavinska scored the fifth point for Drake after a straight-set victory in four singles. Stepan and Yana Gaskell won their three and six singles matches, allowing Drake to sweep South Dakota 7-0.
Kendall Hunt, a senior on the team, expressed her pleasure with how the team competed over the weekend.
“I’m proud of how the team competed last weekend,” Hunt said. “We are ready to continue training this week to get more wins this season.”
The Bulldogs faced Marquette on January 21, earning their second win of the season. The double three got off to a promising start, with Hunt and Klavinska earning a 6-3 victory.
Double one with Stepan and Haagensen fought off three match points and ultimately earned a 7-5 win, capturing the doubles point for the Bulldogs.
Haagensen went on to explain his thought process during his doubles match against Marquette.
“Throughout the doubles we stuck to the game plan and fought for every point,” Haagensen said. “It was great to be able to get the doubles point for the team.”
Klavinska earned the first singles point for Drake after securing a 6-0, 6-3 victory in four singles. Parkins-Godwin scored the second singles run for Drake after securing a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Haagensen went on to win the match for Drake after battling to a 6-4, 6-4 victory. The final score of the game was 5-2 for the Bulldogs.
Klavinska expressed how good it was to get a second home win, as well as the excitement that success brings for the rest of the season.
“I think it’s great that we are able to get a second home win,” Klavinska said. “I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season looks like.”
The Bulldogs will face Kansas City on February 1.