Women’s Tennis Narrowly Falls To Drake, 4-3

OMAHA, Neb. – The Creighton women's tennis team fell 4-3 to Drake on Saturday night at the Hanscom Tennis Center.

The Bluejays moved their season record to 8-4, snapping their four-match win streak, while Drake improves to 8-6 on the year with the win.

Drake captured the early lead with a pair of victories to earn the doubles points. The Bulldog's Ines Stephani and Rebecca clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 win at the No. 2 spot, while Mille Haagensen and Darinka Stepan picked up an 6-0 win at the No. 3 doubles position.

Drake took a 2-0 lead after senior Gabby O'Connor was forced to retire due to injury in the second set.

Creighton quickly responded with their first point of the match as junior Kate Krueger recorded a 7-5, 6-0 straight-sets win at the top singles position.

Drake pushed their lead right back out to two when Stepan won 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 5 singles slot over Meredith Benson.

Malvika Shukla won keep the Bluejays alive with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph at the No. 4 singles position cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Drake would then clinch the match with 6-2, 7-5 win at the No. 2 doubles spot by Stephani to claim the match for the Bulldogs.

With the match already in hand, senior Sarah Wilcox never faltered in a 7-5, 6-1 win over Daria Walczak at the No. 3 spot for the Bluejays.

"We lost to a very good team today," said head coach Tom Lilly. "They were stronger in the doubles and that turned out to be the difference. Our girls are competing for every point and that is the main thing. We have some things to improve but will keep working. It's a fun team to coach when every player competes until the end."

The Bluejays will return to action on Tuesday afternoon when they play host to South Dakota at the Koch Family Tennis Center. First serve between the Bluejays and Coyotes is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

Drake 4, Creighton 3
Mar 26, 2022 at Omaha, Neb. (Hanscom Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. Kate Krueger (CU) def. Liza Petushkova (DU_W) 7-5, 6-0

2. Ines Stephani (DU_W) def. Valerie Negin (CU) 6-2, 7-5

3. Sarah Wilcox (CU) def. Daria Walczak (DU_W) 7-5, 6-1

4. Malvika Shukla (CU) def. Mille Haagensen (DU_W) 6-4, 6-2

5. Darinka Stepan (DU_W) def. Meredith Benson (CU) 6-3, 6-3

6. Kelsey Neville (DU_W) def. Gabby O'Connor (CU) 6-2, 3-1, retired

Doubles competition

1. Valerie Negin/Malvika Shukla (CU) vs. Liza Petushkova/Daria Walczak (DU_W) 4-3, unfinished

2. Ines Stephani/Rebecca Ehn (DU_W) def. Kate Krueger/Sarah Wilcox (CU) 6-2

3. Mille Haagensen/Darinka Stepan (DU_W) def. Meredith Benson/Gabby O'Connor (CU) 6-0

Match Notes

Drake 8-6

Creighton 8-4

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,1,5,4,2,3)

T-2:15

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Meredith Benson

Kate Krueger

Valerie Negin

Gabby O'Connor

Malvika Shukla

Sarah Wilcox