MILWAUKEE, WIS. – The Milwaukee tennis team dropped another close match falling to Northern Illinois 4-3 in its home opener Friday.
 
The Panthers turned in similar results to its season opener Sunday coming up just short of a team victory against non-conference foe, Northern Illinois 4-3.
 
"Every Panther played their guts out today," said head coach Jason Potthoff. "I can't fault a minute of effort from everyone. We did have a few sets where we weren't competitive enough with our tennis or resilient enough with our emotions, but we gave it everything we had."
 
MKE started the match strong having won two-of-three matches in doubles to earn the doubles point. Duo Alexandra Belle and Mayya Perova held on to win a close one with Huksies' Jovana Peric and Paula Veyhle, 7-6 (7-5). Earning the other Panther victory, Nikki Milner and Nicole Clarke picked up their first win together defeating Mario Potsi and Lara Slisko 6-1.
 
In singles, the Panthers fought hard in each match pushing the limits of their opponent, but in the end couldn't get over the hump to earn the win.
 
The Huskies defeated the Panthers top three, but each match was highly contested. Reigning Horizon League Singles Player of the Week, Alexandra Belle, came up shy to Jovana Peric falling 7-5, 7-6 (8-6).
 
Freshmen Mayya Perova and Nikki Milner also came up just short in each of their nail-biting matches as well. Perova won the first set 4-6, but was unable to finish falling 6-2, 7-5 in the last two sets. Milner went down in two, but fought in every game for a 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) loss.
 
The Panthers, however, pulled out two victories from Nicole Clarke and Loren Nelson from the No. 4 and No. 6 positions.
 
Clarke defeated her opponent handedly 6-3, 6-3, while Nelson went the distance winning 6-4, 5-7, 6-1.
 
Potthoff says, "It stings a little that we're a few points here and there from being 2-0 instead of 0-2, but we've got a chip on our shoulder and we're ready to go battle again tomorrow."
 
The Panthers will indeed have a quick turnaround as the team takes on the Omaha Mavericks at a neutral site. The match will be played in Hartland (Wis.) at the Lake Country Racquet and Athletic Club and will begin at 2 p.m. (CT).