MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's tennis team started off the day strong by winning doubles play, but could not carry over the momentum into the rest of the afternoon in dropping a 6-1 decision to UIC Sunday at River Glen Elite.
 
"We were thrilling in doubles," head coach Ryan Kucera said. "We truly dominated with energy and we were decisive and aggressive, and countered their attacking plays with extreme poise. We took a historically strong doubles program and really imposed ourselves."
 
MKE claimed wins at No. 2 and No. 3 and did so in convincing fashion. Alice Shields and Iva Stejskalova defeated Tamara Malazonia and Paula Rodriguez Greg by a final score of 6-2 and Nadiia Konieva and Giorgia Cavestro capped the team point with a 6-3 victory over Natalia Nikolopoulou and Cora-Lynn vonDungern.
 
The Panthers (5-8) eventually fell to the Flames (5-5) despite winning first sets on three courts in singles action.
 
"We continued our hot start into singles," Kucera said. "For two hours, we were the better team. We took three first-sets relatively quickly and were competing well on the other three courts. Midway through second sets it looked like we were in control, we were more aggressive and playing with more confidence."
 
Babette Burgersdijk (6-4 at #1), Konieva (6-3 at #3), and Stejskalova (6-0 at #6) all got off to great starts but were unable to finish off their respective individual victories. Konieva dropped a tiebreaker in the second and battled to a 6-4 loss in the decisive frame.
 
"However, when we get leads in tennis, we must finish," Kucera said. "There is no running out the clock. UIC won 19 Horizon League championships for a reason, and they taught us a lesson in consistency and perseverance. We had our chances, and I am proud of how hard we fought together until the end. We kept battling, even when things started to go sideways. UIC was just a bit more fundamentally sound and able to take advantage of the chances they created. Once they got their foothold, they seized the moment."
 
The Flames wrapped up the comeback with straight-set decisions at No. 2/4/5.
 
"At the end of the day, there are no trophies for almost pulling off a huge victory, but we also must keep perspective of our growth as a team," Kucera said. "We have shown lately that we can play at a championship level, and we will keep taking steps to bring out that type of tennis more consistently."
 
Up next, the Panthers wrap up the three-match homestand, welcoming Whitewater March 12. Start time is slated for 1 p.m.
 
UIC 6, Milwaukee Panthers 1
Singles competition
1. Agnes Gustafsson (UIC) def. Babette Burgersdijk (MKE) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Tamara Malazonia (UIC) def. Anika Tylek (MKE) 6-3, 6-0
3. Natalia Nikolopoulou (UIC) def. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) 3-6, 7-6 (7-6), 6-4
4. Ana Jover (UIC) def. Alice Shields (MKE) 6-2, 7-5
5. Cora-Lynn vonDungern (UIC) def. Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-3, 6-3
6. Lea Forste-Dinell (UIC) def. Iva Stejskalova (MKE) 0-6, 6-3, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Agnes Gustafsson/Ana Jover (UIC) def. Babette Burgersdijk/Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-1
2. Nadiia Konieva/Giorgia Cavestro (MKE) def. Natalia Nikolopoulou/Cora-Lynn vonDungern (UIC) 6-3
3. Alice Shields/Iva Stejskalova (MKE) def. Tamara Malazonia/Paula Rodriguez Greg (UIC) 6-2