Drake University Team Page
REDBIRD ROUNDUP RECAP
Drake wrapped up its stay at the Redbird Roundup on Sept. 23 adding a pair of titles to the Bulldogs' resume for the 2012 fall campaign.
Freshman Maddie Johnson (Onalaska, Wis.) took home the championship in the No. 3 singles flight besting Madeline Jolly of Saint Louis, 6-2, 6-1.
In doubles, the tandem of junior Klavdija Rebol (Kranj, Slovenia) and freshman Jordan Eggleston (LaQuinta, Calif.) garnered the No. 1 doubles crown on the strength of an 8-3 decision past teammates sophomore Nell Boyd (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and freshman Mariel Ante (Riverside, Calif.).
In the consolation final of the top singles flight, Boyd registered a 3-6, 6-3, 12-10 victory over Stephanie Hollis of Saint Louis.
A YEAR AGO AT THE MVC INDIVIDUALS
Led by Manca Krizman's championship, Drake finished its 2011 fall campaign in style at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Individuals on Oct. 9, 2011, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, as the Bulldogs captured one title, a second-place finish and a pair of third-place showings.
Krizman earned her title with a 6-4, 6-2 decision past Wichita State's Delia Damaschin in the No. 2 flight.
Coming up shy, Amanda Aragon suffered a 6-2, 6-1 setback versus Montse Blasco Fernandez of Wichita State in the championship tilt at No. 6.
Registering triumphs in third-place matches at the Nos. 3 and 7 flights, respectively, were Jessica Aguilera and Ali Patterson (Overland Park, Kan.).
At No. 3, Aguilera downed Analese Snyder of Creighton, 2-6, 6-3, 11-9, while Patterson won her contest at No. 7, 6-3, 7-5 past Amanda Noonan of Creighton.
DRAKE HEAD COACH PAUL THOMSON
Paul Thomson is in his third season leading the Drake women's tennis program after serving five years (2005-10) as head men's and women's coach at Brevard College in Brevard, N.C.
Thomson led the Bulldogs to a 13-10 mark during his inaugural campaign, including a 4-3 third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference and Drake's first winning record since 2006.
During his rookie season guiding the Bulldogs, he mentored then freshman Klavdija Rebol, who became Drake's initial first team All-MVC performer since 2005, garnering all-league accolades at the No. 3 singles position. Manca Krizman was also honored for her play on the court, being named to the All-Select squad by the MVC coaches.
Off the court, Gabriela Demos was honored for the second-consecutive year as a first team MVC Scholar-Athlete selection.
In 2012, Thomson led the Bulldogs to a record-setting 22-7 ledger, en route to a 5-2 second-place finish in the MVC. The 22 victories established a school record for wins and allowed Drake to surpass the 20-victory plateau for only the second time in school history.
The Bulldogs captured their initial postseason triumph since 2006 when Drake advanced to the State Farm MVC Championship semifinals with a 4-1 victory over Northern Iowa.
Five players earned 20 or more singles wins, sparked by Krizman, who posted a team-best 31-5 singles record, which included a 25-match winning streak. Every Bulldog registered a winning singles' record, while all but one Drake player matched the feat in doubles, led by 27 wins courtesy of Demos.
Pulling in MVC All-Select team honors were Krizman and Rebol, while Demos was named to the All-MVC Scholar Athlete first team for the third-consecutive campaign. Collecting honorable mention All-MVC Scholar-Athlete accolades was Krizman.
Drake's senior class of Amanda Aragon, Jessica Aguilera, Demos, Krizman and Earlynn Lauer made its mark on the Bulldogs' program. Demos finished first in school history (since 2006-07) in combined career victories (139), while ranking third in school history (since 1990-91) in career doubles wins (74). Krizman is third in school history (since 2006-07) in combined career victories (126), while Aguilera is rated fourth (120).
