MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee tennis team remain on the road for another weekend, and will travel to Iowa to take on Drake and the University of Northern Iowa beginning Saturday, March 5. The Panthers and Bulldogs will square off at 11 a.m. from the Knapp Tennis Center, while Sunday will feature an all-Panther showdown from the Black Hawk Tennis Center.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Panthers had just a single dual last weekend at North Dakota and fell 5-2 to the Fighting Hawks.
 
Milwaukee earned the doubles point with wins from Mayya Perova and Avery Durham who were paired together for the first time this season, and Greta Carbone and Iva Stejskalova from the No. 1 line.
 
Senior Mayya Perova also picked up her eighth win, sixth straight at North Dakota. The Moscow native now holds an 8-1 overall record.
 
TENNIS VLOG to ND: Ever curious what it's like to be on the road with the Milwaukee tennis team? Here's a firsthand look of what it was like to travel with the Panthers when they traveled to North Dakota.
   
MORE AWARDS: For the second time this season, sophomore duo Greta Carbone and Iva Stejskalova have been named Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week for the week of March 2. Carbone and Stejskalova improved to 8-1 when they defeated North Dakota's No. 1 doubles team, 6-3.
 
SCOUTING DRAKE: The Drake Bulldogs are coming off a 5-2 victory over Northern Illinois and enter the match with a 5-3 overall record. Notable wins include Marquette, South Dakota and Wichita State.
 
The Bulldogs are led by seniors Liza Petushkova and Daria Walczak. Both were named to the Missouri Valley (MVC) All-Select team in 2021.
 
ABOUT NORTHERN IOWA: The Northern Iowa Panthers are 2-5 so far this season with wins over St. Thomas University and recently Grinnell College.
 
Freshman Darta Dalecka enters the weekend with a 4-1 record – all from the No. 1 singles line. Junior Thaissia Moreira and freshman Lorena Cardoso combine for six wins at singles as well. 
 
In doubles, the Panthers combine for an 8-14 record, with Dalecka and Cardoso leading the way with an 3-3 record from the No. 1 doubles line.
 
2022 Horizon League Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
Pl.      Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1.        UIC – 47 (5)
2.        Youngstown State – 43 (2) 
3.        Cleveland State – 35
4.        Milwaukee – 24
5.        Oakland – 21
6.        Northern Kentucky – 19
7.        IUPUI – 7
 
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.
 
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 Panthers have just three more road matches before they return home. Milwaukee will travel to Chicago State Saturday, March 12 and will follow-up with a dual against UW-Whitewater the next day.