KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Milwaukee women's tennis team opened the Bronco Super Challenge with a solid performance Friday. The team posted a 5-3 mark in doubles play and 4-3 ledger in singles action at the event, hosted by Western Michigan at the West Hills Athletic Club.
 
"Today was a strong day for the team," head coach Ryan Kucera said. "We have been improving steadily, especially in the last month, and it was great to see that reflected in the results. In singles we are making progress as well. Each player is working on unique things, but everyone played with toughness, and everyone is making strides towards the imposing and physical tennis we need to be playing."
 
In singles, Giorgia Cavestro put in an impressive outing, topping Oakland's Tara Montreuil by a final score of 6-1, 6-0. Nadiia Konieva and Alice Shields were close behind, dispatching their opponents in impressive straight-set action. Konieva took down Oakland's Tegan Heaton, 6-3, 6-1, while Shields defeated Western Michigan's Kaitlyn Rogosch 6-2, 6-1.
 
It took Anouk Ma-Ajong a bit more work, but she came out on top against Emma Hultqvist, also of Oakland, by a final score of 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5).
 
In doubles action, the tandem of Iva Stejskalova and Alice Shields went a perfect 2-0, taking care of Western Michigan 7-6 (6) and Northern Illinois, 6-3. Each of the other MKE doubles tandems finished 1-1 in the two rounds of play Friday.
 
"I was pleased with our doubles," Kucera said. "It was a complete team performance, we were gritty and physical, and we had key moments where we attacked fearlessly and just took the match from our opponent."
 
The Panthers participate in day two of three Saturday.
 
Singles Day One
Babette Burgersdijk vs. WMU Lindsey Ziegler 1-6, 1-6
Alice Shields vs. WMU Kaitlyn Rogosch 6-2, 6-1
Nadiia Konieva vs. OAK Tegan Heaton 6-3, 6-1
Giorgia Cavestro vs OAK Tara Montreuil 6-1, 6-0
Sara Simonova vs. CSU Tereze Vevere 2-6, 3-6
Anika Tylek vs. OAK Nirva Patel 4-6, 6-3, 7-10
Anouk Ma-Ajong vs. OAK Emma Hultqvist 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5)
 
Doubles Day One/Round One
Iva Stejskalova/Alice Shields vs. WMU Valeriya Monko/Kiana Rizzolo 7-6 (6)
Nadiia Konieva/Giorgia Cavestro vs. CSU Oihane Vicario/Sima Heren 6-4
Babette Burgersdijk/Sara Simonova vs. OAK Yasmin Glazbrook/Nirva Patel 1-6
Anika Tylek/Anouk Ma-Ajong vs. WAYNE Suki Mandair/Shanice Weekes 6-2
 
Doubles Day One/Round Two
Nadiia Konieva/Giorgia Cavestro vs. WMU Karin Hamilton/Audrey Smitek 6-7 (1)
Babette Burgersdijk/Sara Simonova vs. EMU Regina Mendez/Vidisha Reddy 6-3
Iva Stejskalova/Alice Shields vs. NIU Angelica Ross/Erika Dimitriev 6-3
Anika Tylek/Anouk Ma-Ajong vs. OAK Jillian Milano/Tegan Heaton 4-6