HARTLAND, WIS. – The Milwaukee tennis team earned its first victory of the 2019 season defeating the Omaha Mavericks 5-2 from the Lake Country Racquet and Athletic Club in Hartland Saturday afternoon.
 
The Panthers have lost two close matches in the last two weeks, but the team was able to put together a full match from top to bottom to earn its first team victory.
 
"I'm really proud of the way we bounced back today after having dropped our last two team matches 4-3," said head coach Jason Potthoff. "There's very little difference between the three teams we've played so far, but today we did a better job of closing out sets, matches and trusting our games from start to finish."
 
The Panthers got off to another great start winning the doubles point winning at the No. 1 and 3 positions. Duo Alexandra Belle and Mayya Perova remain unbeaten (3-0) together after defeating Omaha's Natalie Lorentz and Savanna Crowell, 6-2. Anna Daniel Fuentes and Lucy Harper picked up the other match win for MKE winning 6-4 over Rylee Tucker and Emily Behling.
 
In singles play, MKE dominated the Mavericks winning four-of-six matches to close out the match.
 
Senior Alexandra Belle bounced back from yesterday's loss, defeating Ines Absisan handedly 6-2, 6-2 from the No. 1 position.
 
MKE's Nicole Clarke (3-0) remained perfect in singles winning at the No. 3 spot, 7-5, 7-5.
 
Anna Daniel Fuentes locked up a Panther victory after she defeated Savanna Crowell 6-2, 6-3.
 
"It feels good to get that first win of the season," said Pothoff. " I think it will help to settle down our nerves a bit, and we are excited to get back out on the court and take on Butler next weekend."
 
The Panthers resume action next Saturday from Indiana as the Panthers travel to Butler for a 10 a.m. (CT) dual.