CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Tied at three apiece in the final flight, Fati Khamissi broke the second-set tiebreaker to propel the Missouri State women's tennis team past No. 5 Drake, 4-3, and secure a place in the semifinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championships.
 
"I'm so proud of our fight on every court in singles," said Head Coach Mallory Weber. "We got off to a great start today and the team is ready to carry that momentum into tomorrow."
 
Drake started off hot, sweeping the doubles matches and an early singles point in the first flight to pull ahead 2-0.  
 
No. 2 Anna Alons halfed the Bulldogs lead in a straight-set 6-2, 6-0 decision before MVC All-Conference selection Ellie Burger extended her winning streak in another 6-2, 6-0 victory to tie the contest.
 
Clara Gandara Gonzalez edged MSU into the 3-2 lead, downing her opponent 6-2, 6-1 in the fifth flight.
 
This time it was Drake's turn to tie it, nabbing the 6-3, 6-4 decision in the fourth flight, making it 3-3 with one match remaining.
 
No. 3 Khamissi cruised to a first-set 6-2 win, but both were locked at six apiece heading down the stretch. The Rabat, Morocco native broke the tiebreaker to clinch the contest and send the Bears to the semifinal round of the MVC Championships.  
 
It also marked Khamissi's 10^th dual singles victory this spring.
 
Up next, MSU faces No. 1 Stony Brook in the semifinal round of the MVC Championship tomorrow (Apr. 27) at 10 a.m.
 
For all of the latest information on the Missouri State women's tennis team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow @MSUBearsTennis on Twitter and Instagram.
 
Doubles
 
Liza Petushkova/Kenya Williams (DU) def. Ellie Burger/Alye Darter (MSU) 6-2
Carmen Palumbo/Daria Walczak (DU) def. Phoebe Boeschen/Anna Alons (MSU) 6-1
Kelsey Neville/Sophia Haleas (DU) def. Fati Khamissi/Alexia Meyer (MSU) 5-3
 
Singles
 
Liza Petushkova (DU) def. Alye Darter (MSU) 7-5, 6-1
Carmen Palumbo (DU) def. Anna Alons (MSU) 6-2, 6-0
Fati Khamissi (MSU) def. Daria Walczak (DU) 6-2, 7-6
Sophia Haleas (DU) def. Phoebe Boeschen (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
Clara Gandara Gonzalez (MSU) def. Kenya Williams (DU) 6-2, 6-1
Ellie Burger (MSU) def. Kelsey Neville (DU) 6-2, 6-0