MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's tennis team gave Illinois State all it could handle, falling 5-2 to the two-time defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champions Saturday afternoon at River Glen Elite.
 
The Panthers (2-4) dropped a heartbreaking point in doubles play to start the contest against the Redbirds (3-0), winning at No. 2 while falling in each of the other flights in tie-breaker fashion.
 
"I continue to be incredibly proud of this team," head coach Ryan Kucera said. "We really went to war today. The doubles point was a constant back and forth on every court, and very high-level doubles. We stuck to our tactics extremely well through tight sets and kept responding when they went on runs. Credit to Illinois State, they went out in those two tiebreaks and played fearlessly, they took the point in those moments."
 
Singles was just as thrilling, led by Babette Burgersdijk and her 6-3, 6-1 victory over two-time MVC All-Conference selection and 2021 MVC Player of the Year, Tijana Zlatanovic.
 
Nadiia Konieva also picked up a victory at No. 4, setting up the deciding points to come from the No. 5 and No. 6 singles matches.
 
"Singles was a similar story," Kucera said. "Our level keeps getting better. Babette was a rockstar for us today. She was so committed to her gameplan and reached a level of offensive tennis that was so formidable. Her killer instinct really came out in the big points today. It was huge for her and Nadya to come out firing and put points up for us quickly. From there, we had opportunities. I know we are on the right track because we are getting more and more of these opportunities each match. There were times where it was really an incredible level of tennis from us. I know it's not fun for our student-athletes to learn through these heartbreaker-type losses, but these are the moments that can propel us to great things if we persevere. We have proven we can go toe to toe with an NCAA tournament team, and if we continue to buy into the hard work and keep positive attitudes, there are no limits."
 
Despite MKE taking a 1-0 lead on each court in those final two matches, the Redbirds each battled back from a set down to claim the clinching points for the visitors.
 
Iva Stejskalova and Alice Shields got things going for MKE in doubles play to start the day, topping Alexandra Abyasova and Silvia Pomarolli by a score of 7-5.
 
The other two courts were full of tension-filled back-and-forth action, starting at No. 1 with Burgersdijk and Sara Simonova, who fell, 7-6 (7-3). The deciding match came from No. 3, seeing Konieva and Giorgia Cavestro give it a great run before coming up just short, 7-6 (7-4).
 
Simonova [6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1] and Shields [5-7, 6-2, 6-3] started strong, but were unable to finish off the Redbirds in each of their respective matches.
 
Up next, the Panthers remain at home for a pair of matches next week, playing host to Gustavus Adolphus Saturday and Eastern Illinois Sunday. Start time for both matches is set for 1 p.m.
 
Illinois State 5, Milwaukee Panthers 2
Singles competition
1. Babette Burgersdijk (MKE) def. Tijana Zlatanovic (ILLST) 6-3, 6-1
2. Alexandra Abyasova (ILLST) def. Iva Stejskalova (MKE) 6-0, 6-2
3. Nevena Kolarevic (ILLST) def. Anika Tylek (MKE) 6-2, 6-1
4. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) def. Tara Damnjanovic (ILLST) 4-1, retired
5. Silvia Pomarolli (ILLST) def. Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1
6. Elena Jankulovska (ILLST) def. Alice Shields (MKE) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Tijana Zlatanovic/Tara Damnjanovic (ILLST) def. Babette Burgersdijk/Sara Simonova (MKE) 7-6 (7-3)
2. Iva Stejskalova/Alice Shields (MKE) def. Alexandra Abyasova/Silvia Pomarolli (ILLST) 7-5
3. Elena Jankulovska/Nevena Kolarevic (ILLST) def. Nadiia Konieva/Giorgia Cavestro (MKE) 7-6 (7-4)