MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's tennis team put together an impressive overall performance in claiming a 5-2 victory over Northern Iowa Saturday at River Glen Elite.
 
The MKE Panthers (5-7) dominated the doubles point against the UNI Panthers (4-8-1) and then put together a very impressive effort in the singles matches to earn the 5-2 decision to improve to 5-1 at home this spring.
 
"Fantastic day for the Panthers, proud of our performance," said Milwaukee head coach Ryan Kucera. "It all started with our energy. In the doubles point, we wanted to assert home-court advantage, and we accomplished that. We were great to create and finish volley opportunities early. We also made an improvement in our returning, which helped us play more offensively."
 
Milwaukee took care of doubles play in dominant fashion, winning both completed games by scores of 6-2 to take the 1-0 advantage. Nadiia Konieva and Giorgia Cavestro took care of Andrijana Brkic and Kim Zizek at No. 2 and Alice Shields and Iva Stejskalova dropped Thainna Moreira and Issa Sullivan by that same 6-2 decision at No. 3.
 
The momentum carried over into singles play, which included some interesting scores along the way with Milwaukee going 4-2.
 
MKE grabbed two of the first three results, seeing Sara Simonova take out Thainna Moreira 6-4, 6-0 at No. 5 and Babette Burgersdijk dispatch Darta Dalecka at No. 1 by a final score of 6-4, 6-2.
 
"In singles, every court was competitive, high-level tennis," Kucera said. "Credit to UNI for competing so well, we had to earn each of our wins. I am proud of Sara. She played with strong trust in herself. Once she locked into her tactics, she didn't let up and was able to win the last nine games of the match consecutively. Babs (Burgersdijk) was a similar story, got ahead early with her aggressive ball striking and kept the pressure on. Great to see her be so decisive and assertive."
 
After UNI took the next completed result, Alice Shields locked up the win with quite the scoreline, topping Kim Zizek 6-0, 5-7, 6-0 at No. 4 to make it official. At No. 3, Nadiia Konieva also rebounded quickly for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 result over Lorena Cardoso to wrap up the day.
 
"Nadiia and Alice then really finished the match on a high note for us with third set wins. Alice was cruising up a set and a break, and then her opponent made a strong run to take the second set. I am proud of her for regrouping and going out and dominating the third. Congrats on her first clinch! "
 
The Panthers will look to carry the momentum into tomorrow, hosting UIC at 1 p.m.
 
"It was a truly united team effort; we are excited to keep building on these positive moments tomorrow against UIC," Kucera said.
 
Milwaukee Panthers 5, Northern Iowa 2
Singles competition
1. Babette Burgersdijk (MKE) def. Darta Dalecka (UNI) 6-4, 6-2
2. Andrijana Brkic (UNI) def. Anika Tylek (MKE) 6-3, 6-1
3. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) def. Lorena Cardoso (UNI) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Alice Shields (MKE) def. Kim Zizek (UNI) 6-0, 5-7, 6-0
5. Sara Simonova (MKE) def. Thainna Moreira (UNI) 6-4, 6-0
6. Kanyanut Sudsaard (UNI) def. Giorgia Cavestro (MKE) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Babette Burgersdijk/Sara Simonova (MKE) vs. Darta Dalecka/Lorena Cardoso (UNI) 3-4, unfinished
2. Nadiia Konieva/Giorgia Cavestro (MKE) def. Andrijana Brkic/Kim Zizek (UNI) 6-2
3. Alice Shields/Iva Stejskalova (MKE) def. Thainna Moreira/Issa Sullivan (UNI) 6-2