DES MOINES, Iowa - A furious comeback fell short for the Drake women's tennis team as UMKC spoiled the Bulldogs' home opener with a 4-3 triumph on Saturday (Feb. 2) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

"Youth is a wonderful thing, and we are young, Drake head coach Paul Thomson commented.  "We have the fight, desire and motivation to go along with a great deal of athletic ability, but along with the youth comes inexperience.  Our team has the makings of a very good team. We need to get everyone healthy and learn from the mistakes we are making match-to-match and if we do that we are going to be just fine.  It was tough loss today, but a great learning experience and a lot of food for the soul."

The Kangaroos stole the early momentum in the affair registering victories at the Nos. 2 and 3 doubles positions to claim the doubles point.

Junior Klavdija Rebol (Kranj, Slovenia) evened the tilt at one following her 6-1, 6-4 singles triumph past Suzan Lisenby at No. 3.

UMKC regained the lead 3-1 after posting wins on the top two courts.

Freshman Jordan Eggleston (LaQuinta, Calif.) began Drake's comeback besting Amelie Amsallem on court No. 5, 7-5, 6-1.

Fellow freshman Maddie Johnson (Onalaska, Wis.) followed by knotting the showdown at three after a 6-4, 6-3 victory versus Maddie Schulte at No. 6.

All eyes then landed on court No. 4 where freshman Evy Van Genechten (Antwerp, Belgium) was battling Dimitra Stavrinakou. 

Van Genechten took the initial set, 6-4, before Stavrinakou battled back to stave off the loss on the strength of a 7-5 decision in the second set.

The final frame came down to the tiebreaker where Stavrinakou withstood a furious charge from Van Genechten to complete a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6) victory.

The Bulldogs return to action hosting UTEP (Texas at El Paso) on Friday (Feb. 8) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.  Match time is slated for 6:00 p.m.

UMKC (1-2) DEF. DRAKE (1-2), 4-3

FEB. 2, 2013 • ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER

SINGLES:

No. 1 Laura Bouet (UMKC) def. Nell Boyd (DU), 6-3, 7-5

No. 2 Eva Dalvai (UMKC) def. Lea Kozulic (DU), 7-5, 6-1

No. 3 Klavdija Rebol (DU) def. Suzan Lisenby (UMKC), 6-1, 6-4

No. 4 Dimitra Stavrinakou (UMKC) def. Evy Van Genechten (DU), 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6)

No. 5 Jordan Eggleston (DU) def. Amelie Amsallem (UMKC), 7-5, 6-1

No. 6 Maddie Johnson (DU) def. Maddie Schulte (UMKC), 6-4, 6-3

Order of finish: 3,1,2,5,6,4

DOUBLES:

No. 1 Eggleston/Rebol (DU) def. Bouet/Stavrinakou (UMKC), 8-5

No. 2 Dalvai/Gabby Pintos (UMKC) def. Boyd/Van Genechten (DU), 8-6

No. 3 Amsallem/Lisenby (UMKC) def. Amanda Dick/Kozulic (DU), 8-3

Order of finish: 3,2,1