SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State women's tennis team's conference title hopes came to an end on Sunday morning at the Bears fell to Drake, 4-0, in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship match at Cooper Tennis Complex. 
  
Arguably the key factor in the match was doubles play as Drake secured the key doubles point to take the early 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs got their first doubles win in the No. 1 spot when Liza Petushkova and Maria Tatarnikova defeated Ellie Burger and Claire Martin, 6-1. Drake then clinched the doubles point in the No. 3 match as Drainka Stepan and Ines Stephani dispatched Mara Presot and Mary Houston, 6-2. 
   
In singles play, Claire Martin was swept by Drake's Kelsey Neville, 6-0, 6-3 in the No. 6 match to increase the lead to 2-0 in favor of the visitors. In the No. 1 spot, Sisirak, fell to Petushkova, 1-6, 0-6. Drake then clinched the title in the No. 4 match when Tatarnikova defeated Houston, 6-2, 6-0, to give the Bulldogs their second MVC Championship in program history. 
  
In the No. 5 match, Alyson Piskulic won her first match over Stepan 7-6, before Drake clinched the match. Tiffani Nash won her first set over Stephani in the No. 3 match (6-3) as the match went unfinished. At the No. 2 flight, Burger picked up a big first-set win over Daria Walczak, 6-4 before Drake clinched. 
  
Nash finished her freshman season with a record of 15-3 while tying the school record for wins by a freshman. Burger finished her career as one of the most decorated Bears in program history with a 43-18 (.705) record. Her .705 winning percentage is third in program history. 
The Bears concluded their season with a 12-10 overall record, their best mark in four seasons.
 
Missouri State 4, Drake 0 
Singles competition 
1. Liza Petushkova (DU) def. Hana Sisirak (MSU) 6-1, 6-0 
2. Ellie Burger (MSU) vs. Daria Walczak (DU) 6-4, unfinished 
3. Tiffani Nash (MSU) vs. Ines Stephani (DU) 6-3, unfinished 
4. Maria Tatarnikova (DU) def. Mary Houston (MSU) 6-2, 6-0 
5. Alyson Piskulic (MSU) vs. Darinka Stepan (DU) 7-6, unfinished 
6. Kelsey Neville (DU) def. Claire Martin (MSU) 6-0, 6-3 
  
Doubles competition 
1. Liza Petushkova/Maria Tatarnikova (DU) def. Ellie Burger/Claire Martin (MSU) 6-1 
2. Hana Sisirak/Alyson Piskulic (MSU) vs. Kelsey Neville/Daria Walczak (DU) unfinished 
3. Darinka Stepan/Ines Stephani (DU) def. Mara Presot/Mary Houston (MSU) 6-2 
  
Order of finish: Doubles (,1,3); Singles (6,1,4)