HOMEWOOD, Ill. – The Milwaukee tennis team took down Chicago State in exciting match-clinching fashion Saturday afternoon at the Park Forest Fitness Club. The Panthers (4-8) beat the Cougars (6-11) by a score of 4-3.
 
The Panthers were up 1-0 after doubles play earning wins from the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles lines. MKE's Greta Carbone and Iva Stejskalova cruised to a 6-1 win while Mayya Perova and Avery Durham clinched the point for the Panthers from the No. 2 line, winning 6-4.
 
"I can't emphasize enough how big of a win this was for us today," said head coach Jason Potthoff. "Everyone on the team is either getting over  being sick or dealing with an injury, or both, but they were so determined to find a way to win today. Doubles was very clean on court 1, and we slammed the door on 2 when CSU was starting to get back into it."
 
With the win, senior Mayya Perova continues to shine in her senior campaign. The Moscow native moved up to the No. 1 singles line and dropped just two total games in a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Katarina Drazic. Perova now has a nine-match win streak.
 
The Panthers took a 3-2 lead over Chicago State when Iva Stejskalova defeated Diana Borodina in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5.
 
"Mayya getting off the court quickly was huge for us, and Iva fought so hard to close that match out in straight sets against one of their most experienced players," said Potthoff. "And then it all came down to Gio [Giorgia Cavestro] out there with the whole building watching and her teammates going crazy on the sideline helping her through it, and she was just so brave today. I'm so incredibly proud of all of them."
 
The Cougars looked to close it out with a win at the No. 3 singles line to square up the match, and up a set in the final dual, but freshman Giorgia Cavestro had other plans. Cavestro rallied back from a 6-2 loss and comeback to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-3 and clinch the match for the Black & Gold.
 
Milwaukee will look to ride today's momentum to tomorrow as the team travels to UW-Whitewater. First serve is set for 4 p.m. at Lake Geneva Tennis.