MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee tennis officially begins its 2022 spring season hosting the University of Nebraska at Omaha this Sunday at Elite River Glen. The dual is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
THE BLACK & GOLD: The Panthers enter the 2022 season with a mix of experience and newcomers. Returning are seniors
Nikki Milner,
Mayya Perova and
Anika Tylek. All three return with valuable court experience throughout their four-year tenure with the Black & Gold.
Also returning are sophomores
Iva Stejskalova and reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year,
Greta Carbone.
Newcomers include (sophomore)
Babette Burgersdijk who transferred in from Louisiana Lafayette, and freshmen
Giorgia Cavestro and
Avery Durham.
Follow MKE on Twitter and Instagram (
@MKE_Tennis) and get to know the 2022 roster with Get to Know the Panthers video series.
RECAP OF 2021: The Panthers finished the 2021 season with a 14-8, 7-5 record and earned a spot into the Horizon League tournament for the second time in three years. The 14 wins marked a new school record for the most team wins in a single season.
Now sophomore,
Greta Carbone served up an impressive freshman campaign by earing league Freshman of the Year and First-Team honors with a 16-4, 10-2 HL overall record.
Mayya Perova and
Nikki Milner also earned league recognition twice throughout the 2021 season as Doubles Team of the Week.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: Milwaukee is a combined 20-6 over the last three seasons, including a 10-3 home record in 2021.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS: The two teams have met just twice in program history with the Panthers winning the last match 5-2 in 2019. As a team, the Mavericks finished 9-14 overall with a 1-5 Summit League record.
UNO return most of its 2021 roster, highlighted by graduate Natalie Lorentz and seniors Madison Gallegos and Ines Absisan. Lorentz earned All-Summit honors in 2019 and a four-time ITA Scholar Athlete. She posted an 11-12 singles record with wins from the No. 2 and No. 3 lines, and went 14-5 in doubles action last season.
2022 SCHEDULE: For the first two months, Milwaukee hits the non-conference schedule hard with strong opponents such as Butler, Eastern Illinois, Marquette, Drake, and SIUE. Out of 15 non-conference duals this season, the Panthers are home just four times before Horizon League play in March.
On the flip side, the Panthers will host the majority of conference play. MKE will host IUPUI, Northern Kentucky, UIC and Oakland in the month of April.
COVID-19 PROTOCOL: Per UW-Milwaukee, masks will be required for all spectators, regardless of vaccination status, at Elite Sports Club. Masks must be worn at all times, except while actively eating or drinking. Masks must completely cover the wearer's nose and mouth. Spectators failing to adhere to this policy may be asked to leave the venue. Children under 3 years old are exempt from the mandatory mask policy.
NEXT UP: The Black & Gold will hit the road after hosting the Mavericks on Sunday. The team will travel next door to Cardinal Stritch next Saturday, January 29, and then face Butler and Eastern Illinois the following weekend on the road.
