Box Score DES MOINES, Iowa – The Milwaukee women's tennis team got the first day of action in the Bulldog Classic off to a successful start, with all three doubles teams recording victories in Friday action from the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
 
The Panthers took on host Drake in doubles play, sweeping all three matches.
 
"It was a great start to the event," head coach Ryan Kucera said. "Doubles was an incredible team effort, our best of the year so far. We played a dominating style, bringing aggression and imposing our game consistently. We paired that with fantastic energy and body language, and when you combine aggressive tennis with a strong mentality, it pays off. To execute that against a very strong Drake team, it's a great sign for things to come."
 
In No. 1 doubles, Iva Stejskalova and Alice Shields topped Mille Haagensen and Darinka Stepan by a final score of 8-3. In No. 2 action, Nadiia Konieva and Giorgia Cavestro combined to defeat Elizabeta Klavinska and Kendall Hunt by the same final scoreline of 8-3. Lastly, at No. 3 doubles, Babette Burgersdijk and Anouk Ma-Ajong gave MKE the sweep, topping Yana Gaskell and Jyun-Yi Lee by a final score of 8-5.
 
In singles play, Milwaukee split six close matchups with Nebraska Omaha.
 
Burgersdijk defeated Addison Miller by a score of 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 singles, while two others won in best-of-3 situations. Anika Tylek knocked off Lillian Tiemeyer 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 at No. 4 singles and Alice Shields did the same to Keegan VanPelt 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, at No. 5.
 
Cavestro and Konieva each fell in a tough three set match.
 
"In singles, we faced a gritty and experienced UNO team and we battled," Kucera said. "We have been working hard in training to develop our games and our mindset, and it was a great learning experience to get out there and play a team like that. It was tight everywhere, and we did a great job to battle at every position. We must get more comfortable in these adverse moments and more consistently impose Panther tennis on our opponents. That's why we are here though, and the team is eager to keep learning and competing. I look forward to us continuing to grow throughout the event."
 
The Panthers continue play in the Bulldog Classic Saturday and Sunday.
 
Doubles vs. Drake
Iva Stejskalova/Alice Shields vs. Haagensen/Stepan, 8-3
Nadiia Konieva/Giorgia Cavestro vs. Klavinska/Hunt, 8-3
Babette Burgersdijk/Anouk Ma-Ajong vs. Gaskell/Lee, 8-5
 
Singles vs. Nebraska Omaha
Iva Stejskalova vs. Jessica Aragon 3-6, 4-6
Babette Burgersdijk vs. Addison Miller 6-4, 6-3
Nadiia Konieva vs Ines Absisan 3-6, 6-4, 4-6
Anika Tylek vs Lillian Tiemeyer 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
Alice Shields vs Keegan VanPelt 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
Giorgia Cavestro vs. Brooke Covington 6-3, 3-6, 3-6