Head Coach Urska Juric URSKA JURIC Head Coach Fourth Season Missouri (2004)
Urska Juric is in her fourth season as head coach for the Drake women’s tennis
program. She came to Drake after serving as an assistant coach for two years (2004-06) at the University of Missouri. This past spring, the Bulldogs turned in one of their better campaigns in recent history as Drake posted an 11-12 mark, including a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference at 5-3. The Bulldogs posted a 6-1 record at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center and registered a season-best sevenmatch winning streak from March 21 – April 10. Senior Veronika Leszayova captured MVC All-Select team accolades for a second straight year, while Leszayova and fellow senior Kari Sloboth were named first team All-MVC Scholar-Athlete recipients. Four Bulldogs captured at least 15 singles victories, while three Drake players won 15 or more doubles matches. Freshman Gabriela Demos led the Bulldogs with 36 combined singles/doubles triumphs and won the No. 2 singles crown at the MVC Individuals. In her second season, Juric helped guide Drake through a campaign of adversity as a depleted roster left the Bulldogs with only five healthy bodies for most of the year. Despite the challenge, she directed Drake to a 9-15 ledger, including 3-5 in the MVC. Leszayova was honored for her efforts on and off the court being named an MVC All-Select team honoree for her play and a first team All-MVC Scholar-Athlete selection in recognition of her academic prowess. In her first campaign leading the Bulldogs, Juric directed Drake to a 9-14 mark, including a 4-4 finish in the MVC. “It is her ability to teach the game and passion for coaching our student-athletes that convinced us that she was the right choice to continue the growth of our women’s tennis program,” Drake Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb said. “In addition, her knowledge of tennis both as a highly-competitive player and later as a coach at Missouri was an attraction for us.” One of the more decorated players in Missouri women’s tennis history, Juric moved seamlessly from a student-athlete into her role as an assistant coach under head coach
Coaching Experience
Head Coach Drake University, 2006-present Assistant Coach Missouri, 2004-06
Coaching Honors
ITA Central Regional Assistant Coach of the Year Finalist, 2005
Playing Experience
Missouri, 2000-04
Education
Bachelor’s Degree - Marketing, Missouri, 2004 Master’s Degree - Public Administration, Missouri, 2007
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Blake Starkey. In her time in Columbia, Mo., she helped the Tigers climb as high as No. 32 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association national rankings as well as a fifth-place finish in the Big XII Conference in 2006. During her tenure, Missouri registered victories over such national powers as Kansas State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue, Texas and Texas A&M. In 2005, her efforts were recognized, as she was a finalist for the ITA Central Region assistant coach of the year. “I’m very proud to be part of the Drake family,” Juric commented. “My top priority is to build a very strong and competitive women’s tennis program. I have a strong desire to help my players succeed both on and off the court. My job is to help them reach their highest potential and to become as good as they possibly can be.” In addition to her role as an assistant coach with the Tigers, Juric was actively involved in the daily operations of Missouri’s Green Tennis Center. She played an integral role in the implementation of junior and adult programming as well as all promotional activity for the facility. A tireless recruiter, she has attended countless national and international events and cultivated positive relationships with many people in the tennis community As a player, Juric was a two-time ITA national indoor doubles finalist and reached national rankings as high as fourth in doubles and 24th in singles competition. She earned AllBig XII accolades in both singles and doubles in each of her final three seasons, becoming the first Tiger in school history to accomplish that feat. Juric capped her Missouri career as the school’s all-time leader in doubles victories with a 95-30 career record and is second all-time in singles play with a mark of 83-44. Earning national attention as well as conference recognition, Juric paired with doubles partner Katka Sevcikova to win back-to-back ITA Central Region indoor doubles championships in 2001 and 2002. This marked the first time in collegiate history that a doubles tandem had won consecutive titles. The duo qualified for the NCAA outdoor championships in 2003 with Juric also gaining a bid into the women’s championship singles draw. Off the court, Juric was a true student-athlete, being named a CoSIDA Academic All-District VII selection as a junior while earning All-Big XII first team Commissioner’s Honor Roll laurels three times. In 2004, she was selected as the recipient of the ITA Central Region Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship award. Juric earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Missouri in December of 2004 as she maintained a 3.81 grade point average. She completed her master’s degree in public administration from Missouri in December of 2007.
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2010 Drake Bulldogs JESSICA LABARTE
Junior Barcelona, Venezuela Criste de Jose/Graceland Junior (Fall 2009): Recorded four wins, including three in singles play...Sophomore (2008-09): Joined the Bulldogs to start the spring semester and went on to turn in seven wins, including four in doubles action...garnered two singles victories in MVC play... Graceland University (2007-08): Competed at Graceland during the 2007-08 campaign and was member of conference championship squad...High School: Ranked in the top-five in the national junior rankings in Venezuela... participated in several national tournaments across South America, while claiming junior titles in the U12, U14 and U16 divisions...Personal: Born March 15, 1989, in Barcelona, Venezuela...majoring in health sciences...daughter of Oscar and Ana Labarte. Year Fall 2009 2008-09 Totals
Singles Doubles 3-5 1-5 3-7 4-13 6-12 5-18
nale...earned runner-up finish in “C” singles draw at Missouri Invitational...High School: Won Santa Cruz tennis championships in the 12-,14-,16- and 18-under divisions...won pair of Bolivian national tournaments, while finishing runner-up on two occasions...participated in pair of South American Championships as well as 14-under World Junior Tennis Championships...Personal: Born April 22, 1989, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia...majoring in business...daughter of Walter and Olga Rivero de Aguilera. Year Fall 2009 2008-09 Totals
Singles Doubles 4-6 2-5 20-13 10-14 24-19 12-19
Combined Total 6-11 30-27 36-38
Combined Total 4-10 7-20 11-30
AMANDA ARAGON Sophomore Fort Collins, Colo. Fort Collins
JESSICA AGUILERA Sophomore Santa Cruz, Bolivia Saint George School
Sophomore (Fall 2009): Recorded seven wins, including four in doubles play... paired with Ali Patterson to capture “B” doubles title at Drake Fall Invitational...reached semifinals of “B” singles flight at Drake Fall Invitational...Freshman (2008-09): Netted a 1513 singles record, while also contributing 10 doubles wins... won six of seven singles matches from March 21-April 12... recorded a 12-7 combined singles/doubles record in the fall...
Sophomore (Fall 2009): Finished with six victories, including four in singles action... collected a pair of singles wins at ITA Central Regional...Freshman (2008-09): Notched a 30-27 combined singles/doubles ledger, including sharing top team honors with 20 singles wins...won eight of her first 10 singles matches before adding a season-best seven match winning streak from Feb. 22-April 11...registered a 5-3 singles mark in MVC play...posted a team-high 8-2 singles mark in the fall...collected singles and doubles crowns at Drake Fall Invitational, claiming the “B” singles title with a 6-1, 6-0 decision over Northern Iowa’s Laia Gonzalez-Garrido, while pairing with Morgan Rainey to register an 8-3 triumph in the “B” fi-
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2010 Drake Bulldogs
paired with Gabriela Demos in doubles to post a team-best 7-4 mark...collected an 8-5 decision with Demos in the “A” final of the Drake Fall Invitational...came up short of a second doubles crown at the MVC Individuals, falling 8-1 to Wichita State duo...competed with Demos in doubles at ITA Midwest Regional...High School: Led Fort Collins High School to conference titles in each of her final three campaigns...team captured regional title in 2006...a two-time first team all-conference selection...twice named conference most valuable player...earned regional title as both freshman and sophomore, while finishing as regional runner-up as both a junior and senior...named a second team all-conference performer on two occasions...tabbed an academic all-state selection... Personal: Born March 21, 1990, in Denver, Colo....majoring in business...daughter of Joseph and Judy Aragon. Year Fall 2009 2008-09 Totals
Singles Doubles 3-5 4-5 15-13 10-18 18-18 14-23
Year Fall 2009 2008-09 Totals
Sophomore Chesterfield, Mo. Lafayette
Sophomore (Fall 2009): Registered a team-high nine victories, including a teambest six in singles action...claimed the “A” doubles crown with Manca Krizman at Drake Fall Invitational...posted a runner-up finish in No. 2 singles at MVC Individuals...Freshman (2008-09): Recorded a team-best 36-29 combined singles/ doubles mark, including top team honors with 20 singles victories...posted 5-2 and 5-3 ledgers in singles and doubles, respectively, in MVC play...recorded winning streaks of four in singles play on three occasions...collected singles wins over opponents from Iowa State, Kansas State and Missouri...went 8-3 in doubles with Kari Sloboth...had 13-8 combined singles/doubles mark in the fall...paired with Amanda Aragon in doubles to post a team-best 7-4 mark...collected an 8-5 decision with Aragon in the “A” final of the Drake Fall Invitational...garnered No. 2 singles title at MVC Individuals with dramatic 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win over Valeriia Petrovych of Indiana State, while coming up short of a second doubles crown, falling 8-1 to Wichita State duo...competed in both singles and doubles at ITA Midwest Regional...High School: Helped lead Lafayette High School to four straight West Suburban Conference titles...won state singles crown
Singles Doubles 6-4 3-5 20-12 16-17 26-16 19-22
Combined Total 9-9 36-29 45-38
EARLYNN LAUER
Combined Total 7-10 25-31 32-41
GABRIELA DEMOS
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after finishing 14-2 in singles as a senior to spark Lancers to second consecutive district title...a four-year letterwinner and team most valuable player, earning conference singles wins in each of her first three seasons...finished fifth in state tournament as a junior...ranked in top 10 in region and top 200 nationally all four years...member of National Honor Society...Personal: Born April 15, 1990, in San Juan, Puerto Rico...majoring in business...daughter of Peter and Christina Demos.
Sophomore Wichita, Kan. Goddard
Sophomore (Fall 2009): Posted a 6-4 combined singles/doubles ledger and was lone Bulldog to register winning records in both singles and doubles...won the “C” singles crown at the Drake Fall Invitational, while finishing second in the No. 7 flight at the MVC Individuals...Freshman (2008-09): Turned in a 9-8 combined singles/doubles record, including 7-4 in singles action...captured victories in both her spring singles appearances...rebounded after dropping her first singles match at the Drake Fall Invitational to claim the singles crown in the “C’ consolation draw with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jordan Short of Central Arkansas...High School: Registered a 4626 singles ledger in two years at Goddard High School... member of runner-up squad in Arkansas Valley Chisolm Trail League as a senior...posted a second-place individual finish in 2007...two-year letterwinner and recipient of Tess Herndon Award for most-improved player in each of her final two seasons...member of National Honor Society and served as NHS president as a senior...class valedictorian... honored as 2007 Kansas Honors Scholar and 2008 Governors Scholar...Personal: Born July 17, 1989, in Wichita, Kan....majoring in neuroscience and psychology...daughter of Earl and Sherry Lauer. Year Fall 2009 2008-09 Totals
Singles Doubles 4-3 2-1 7-4 2-4 11-7 4-5
Combined Total 6-4 9-8 15-12
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2010 Drake Bulldogs
Bulldog Newcomers
ALI PATTERSON
Freshman Overland Park, Kan. Notre Dame De Sion College Prep
MANCA KRIZMAN
Freshman Solkan, Slovenia Gimnazija Nova Gorica Freshman (Fall 2009): Turned in eight victories, including a 5-5 mark in singles action...reached the finals of the top singles draw at MVC individuals...captured “A” doubles title at Drake Fall Invitational paired with Gabriela Demos...High School: Attended Gimnazija Nova Gorica in Nova Gorica, Slovenia... member of Slovenian National Team at European Summer Cup in 2007...ranked among the top-10 in Slovenia in the U-16 and U-18 divisions...finished second in U-16 national championships twice in doubles (2005 and 2006) and in singles in 2006, while placing third in U-18 singles and second in doubles in 2007 and 2008, respectively...Personal: Born Jan. 31, 1990, in Nova Gorica, Slovenia...majoring in psychology...daughter of Vojko and Elizabeta Krizman. Year Fall 2009 Totals
Singles Doubles 5-5 3-5 5-5 3-5
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Combined Total 8-10 8-10
Freshman (Fall 2009): Registered seven victories, including four in singles play... went 1-1 in singles at the ITA Central Regional...captured the “B” doubles crown with Amanda Aragon at the Drake Fall Invitational...High School: Member of back-to-back state championship squads at Notre Dame de Sion High School in Kansas City, Mo....earned first team all-state and all-metro accolades as a senior en route to a second-place state finish in doubles...collected second team all-state honors as a junior after being named an honorable mention all-state recipient as both a freshman and sophomore...finished second in doubles and fifth and sixth in state singles as a junior, sophomore and freshman, respectively...a four-time all-metro team selection...National Honor Society member...Personal: Born May 2, 1990, in Shawnee Mission, Kan....majoring in health sciences...daughter of Mike and Kelley Patterson. Year Fall 2009 Totals
Singles Doubles 4-6 3-5 4-6 3-5
Combined Total 7-11 7-11
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