Salukis to play for the Missouri Valley Championship

Saturday, April 30

Wichita, Kan.

All Day

Southern Illinois University

Drake University

04/30/2016 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis

April 30, 2016

Results

Drew Hoffman siusalukis.com

WICHITA, Kan. - The Southern Illinois women's tennis team took down Drake, 4-1, securing a spot in the Missouri Valley Conference championship match. The Salukis will be taking on the host team, Wichita State, for a chance at the title.

SIU rolled yesterday's momentum into today's match, getting things rolling quickly in doubles play. Xiwei Cai and Ana Sofia Cordero at No. 1 doubles, and Meagan Monaghan and Vitoria Beirao at No. 2 doubles picked up wins, securing the point for SIU.

Going into singles play with a 1-0 lead in the match, SIU needed only three wins to advance to the finals. Drake responded early, picking up at win at the No. 2 spot, tying the match at 1-1. The Salukis quickly answered with a win from Cai at the No. 1 singles, regaining the lead, 2-1. Once SIU took the lead they would keep it till the end, winning the next two contests to clinch the match, 4-1. Katie Fries was able to win in straight sets from the No. 5 slot, and Ana Sofia Cordero picked up a come-from-behind, three-set victory to send the Salukis to the championship.

"I am so proud of the girls and our win today against Drake," SIU head coach Audra Anderson said. "It was such an intense match, and the big key was to be mentally tough and they did exactly that."

This will be the second trip to the finals for SIU in the last three seasons. Both trips have been against WSU, and both semi-finals opponents were the Drake Bulldogs. Tomorrow's match is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. and will be played at the Coleman Tennis Complex, pending the weather. For more information about the MVC tennis championships, click here.