Salukis outplay the Drake Bulldogs, 4-3

Sunday, April 17

Carbondale, Ill.

10:00 AM

Southern Illinois University

Drake University

04/17/2016 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis

April 17, 2016

By Drew Hoffman

SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois women's tennis team continues its dominant stretch, winning 4-3 against Drake University, to remain undefeated in conference play. With a win in their last home match in the 2015-16 season, the Salukis move to 5-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference, and 13-9 on the year.

Starting with doubles play, it was a back and forth affair in all three matches. Drake struck early, winning at the No. 2 slot, 6-2. SIU responded with a win of its own at the No. 3 spot, 6-2. With today's win, Athena Chrysanthou and Polina Dozortseva are now 7-0 from the No. 3 slot for SIU. The No. 1 doubles match decided the doubles point, where the Salukis fell, 6-3. Drake took the doubles point for a 1-0 lead into singles play.

The Salukis tied things up quickly, getting a singles win from Katie Fries at the No. 5 spot. Fries won in straight sets, and remains undefeated against MVC opponents. The Salukis added two more singles victories shortly after, getting wins from Ana Sofia Cordero and Xiwei Cai. SIU held on to the lead for the rest of the match, picking up a clinching win from Polina Dozortseva. The four points the Salukis got in singles helped push SIU to a 4-3 win. SIU has won at least four singles matches in every conference match this season, and 26 of 30 MVC singles matches this season.

"We knew it was going to be a huge battle," SIU head coach Audra Anderson said. "Drake is one of the better teams in the conference, so it was a must win for us and we pulled through. Also, having that home crowd behind us was a big advantage today. I'm just incredibly proud of my team after this one."

SIU finishes 7-1 at home this season. The Salukis have not lost more than one home match in any of the last four seasons.

The team's 5-0 against MVC opponents is the best conference start for the Salukis since 2012-13, and the second-best in the last 10 years. The 2012-13 team won six straight MVC matches before falling to Wichita State.

The Salukis' next conference match is set for next Saturday in Wichita, Kans., against the Shockers.

SIU 4 Drake 3

Doubles

1. Ante/Johnson (DU) def. Cai/Cordero (SIU) 6-3

2. Brills/Lomas (DU) def. Monaghan/Beirao (SIU) 6-2

3. Chrysanthou/Dozortseva (SIU) def. Herder/Jaglarz (DU) 6-2

Singles

1. Xiwei Cai (SIU) def. Mariel Ante (DU) 6-4, 6-2

2. Maddie Johnon (DU) def. Athena Chrysanthou (SIU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2

3. Tess Herder (DU) def. Meaghan Monaghan (SIU) 6-2, 6-2

4. Ana Sofia Cordero (SIU) def. Summer Brills (DU) 6-2, 6-4

5. Katie Fries (SIU) def. Joely Lomas (DU) 6-3, 6-3