MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The time has finally come for the Milwaukee tennis team as they are set to begin Horizon League play against Youngstown State and Cleveland State March 23-24 in Ohio.
LAST TIME OUT: Milwaukee wrapped up its non-conference season with a 6-1 dominate win over Whitewater last Saturday (March 16). The Panthers shuffled the lineup a bit in doubles pairing
Lucy Harper and
Agata Jurczak and
Loren Nelson and
Nicole Clarke for the first time this season. Both teams won giving Milwaukee the doubles point.
In singles, spots two-six took down the Warhawks in straight sets. Both Harper and Clarke earned their sixth victory with their wins.
WHEN & WHERE: The Panthers will take on conference opponents on back-to-back days beginning Sat., March 23 at Youngstown State at the Boardman Tennis Center. The match is set for a 2 p.m. central start time. Following the Penguins, Milwaukee will face the Vikings of Cleveland State at 10 a.m. central at the Medial Mutal Tennis Pavilion. For live results click
HERE in the Panthers/Raiders match.
SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE: Last season, Youngstown State finished with a record of 16-9, 8-1 HL. The team advanced to the NCAA Regionals for the fourth straight year, and won its fourth consecutive Horizon League postseason championship. They also earned is second Horizon League regular-season title.
The team is currently 6-9 with one common opponent faced, Colorado State losing 4-3.
The Raiders are led by senior Noëlly Longi Nsimba who's coming off of first team All-Horizon League year. As a junior, Nsimba finished with 26-11 overall mark, and 7-2 in league play primarily playing at the No. 2 spot. In doubles, she was teamed up with fellow senior Ana Stroe and finished 15-15. This season, Nsimba heads into the match 14-13.
Classmate Sofia Macias also comes in with a winning season finishing 16-7 in singles, 14-7 in doubles and a 12-7 (6-1) doubles mark with teammate Sofia Macias. The sophomore is 10-14 entering the match against Milwaukee.
Rounding out the notables, senior Sofia Macias comes in with a 14-12 record, playing at the No. 2 singles spot primarily. She finished 21-13 overall and 14-7 in duals a season ago.
SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE: Last season, the Vikings finished in second place during the regular season with a 14-10, 8-1 mark. In the Horizon League Championships, Cleveland State lost in their opening match in the second round to Wright State, 4-2.
Cleveland State returns junior Isabella Spindler who was named second team All-Horizon League last season, and Freshman of the Year and first team All-Horizon League in her collegiate debut. Spindler captured a 20-13 doubles record while going 13-21 in singles in 2016-17. She is currently 12-11 overall playing at the No. 1 position and 12-3 with doubles partner Aleksandra Golawska.
Aleksandra Golawski also comes off a winning season having finished 18-13 overall (7-2) and 18-15 in doubles. This season, the senior is 11-11 playing primarily at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots in singles, and 12-3 with Spindler as the No. 1 doubles team.
CHECK THE BOOKS: Dating back from 1990-91, both Youngstown State and Cleveland State hold the edge over the Milwaukee Tennis program. Against the Penguins, the Panthers are 5-11 overall. The Panthers and Penguins matched up more regularly beginning in 2002-03. The head-to-head record versus the Vikings is much closer as the Vikings hold a 14-17 record over the Panthers.
NEXT UP: Milwaukee continues Horizon League play with the two matches against Oakland and Detroit Mercy at home. Match one against Oakland begins at 1 p.m. on Sat., March 31, and will follow-up with Detroit Mercy the following day at 1 p.m.
