DePaul University Athletics
Friday, February 7
Des Moines, Iowa
6:00 PM
DePaul University
at
Drake
DePaul Eyes Weekend Showdown in the Hawkeye State
2/6/2025 12:26:00 PM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
Blue Demons set for battle against Drake and Iowa
CHICAGO – The Blue Demons are back in the Midwest, taking on Drake and Iowa this weekend. First serve versus the Bulldogs is slated for Friday, Feb. 7 at 6:00 p.m. CT from the Roger Knapp Tennis Center in Des Moines, Iowa. After a day off, the match-up with the Hawkeyes begins on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 12:00 p.m. CT. The Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex in Iowa City, Iowa is the site for the contest.
DePaul squares off against both opponents for the first time since 2023. During that season, the Blue Demons defeated Drake 5-2 at XS Tennis Center. No. 2 singles, Hannah Smith won, 6-3, 6-3, for the first Blue Demon singles point of the afternoon to propel the team to a victory. Friday marks the 10th meeting between the schools, with DePaul holding a 5-4 all-time advantage.
In their last meeting with Iowa, the Blue Demons upset the No. 40 Hawkeyes, 4-3 on Feb. 21, 2023, at XS Tennis Village. Eleanor Nobbs tallied a 7-5, 6-2 triumph on court two, helping the Scarlet and Blue win the match. Following the victory, DePaul moved into the ITA rankings for the first time since 2016.
The Blue Demons look to continue their early success after a pair of East Coast victories to move over .500 for the first time this season but understand the challenges the Bulldogs and Hawkeyes present.
"We're looking forward to another challenging weekend competing on the road against Drake and Iowa," said head coach Marisa Arce. "Both are tough teams, and we will need to bring our best. Each week we're looking to improve, so we're playing our best tennis in April."
DePaul (3-2) enters play against Drake after beating Georgetown and George Washington last weekend in Washington, D.C. The Blue Demons overpowered the Hoyas in a 5-2 victory. In singles, freshman Eleanor Cochran secured a 6-2, 7-6 (5) advantage and senior Eva Goncharov clinched the match, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
The Blue Demons faced George Washington for the first time in program history on Saturday, Feb. 1. Smith picked up her first singles win of the season, 6-0, 6-3 on court one. Nobbs closed the door on the Revolutionaries' comeback efforts with a 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory, sealing a 4-3 match win for the Scarlet and Blue.
Drake (0-4) is off to a slow start this season. In each of their four matches against Kansas State and Arkansas, the Bulldogs did not tally a point. Head coach Calvin Song is in his first season with Drake. As an assistant coach at West Virginia during the 2023-24 season, Song helped the Mountaineers to their first postseason appearance in program history and a trip to the NIT Championship semifinal round.
Iowa (2-2) enters the match after capturing wins against Illinois State and Kentucky. Senior Barbora Pokorna holds a 4-0 clip in singles dual play. Head coach Sasha Boros is in her ninth season at the helm of the Hawkeyes. Boros led the team to a season-high No. 61 ITA ranking in 2024.
UP NEXT
DePaul faces the Purdue Boilermakers on Friday, Feb. 14, and the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes on Saturday, Feb. 15 in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Schwartz Tennis Center will host both matches.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Women's Tennis, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
DePaul squares off against both opponents for the first time since 2023. During that season, the Blue Demons defeated Drake 5-2 at XS Tennis Center. No. 2 singles, Hannah Smith won, 6-3, 6-3, for the first Blue Demon singles point of the afternoon to propel the team to a victory. Friday marks the 10th meeting between the schools, with DePaul holding a 5-4 all-time advantage.
In their last meeting with Iowa, the Blue Demons upset the No. 40 Hawkeyes, 4-3 on Feb. 21, 2023, at XS Tennis Village. Eleanor Nobbs tallied a 7-5, 6-2 triumph on court two, helping the Scarlet and Blue win the match. Following the victory, DePaul moved into the ITA rankings for the first time since 2016.
The Blue Demons look to continue their early success after a pair of East Coast victories to move over .500 for the first time this season but understand the challenges the Bulldogs and Hawkeyes present.
"We're looking forward to another challenging weekend competing on the road against Drake and Iowa," said head coach Marisa Arce. "Both are tough teams, and we will need to bring our best. Each week we're looking to improve, so we're playing our best tennis in April."
DePaul (3-2) enters play against Drake after beating Georgetown and George Washington last weekend in Washington, D.C. The Blue Demons overpowered the Hoyas in a 5-2 victory. In singles, freshman Eleanor Cochran secured a 6-2, 7-6 (5) advantage and senior Eva Goncharov clinched the match, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
The Blue Demons faced George Washington for the first time in program history on Saturday, Feb. 1. Smith picked up her first singles win of the season, 6-0, 6-3 on court one. Nobbs closed the door on the Revolutionaries' comeback efforts with a 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory, sealing a 4-3 match win for the Scarlet and Blue.
Drake (0-4) is off to a slow start this season. In each of their four matches against Kansas State and Arkansas, the Bulldogs did not tally a point. Head coach Calvin Song is in his first season with Drake. As an assistant coach at West Virginia during the 2023-24 season, Song helped the Mountaineers to their first postseason appearance in program history and a trip to the NIT Championship semifinal round.
Iowa (2-2) enters the match after capturing wins against Illinois State and Kentucky. Senior Barbora Pokorna holds a 4-0 clip in singles dual play. Head coach Sasha Boros is in her ninth season at the helm of the Hawkeyes. Boros led the team to a season-high No. 61 ITA ranking in 2024.
UP NEXT
DePaul faces the Purdue Boilermakers on Friday, Feb. 14, and the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes on Saturday, Feb. 15 in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Schwartz Tennis Center will host both matches.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Women's Tennis, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Players Mentioned
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