ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Anika Tylek completed a brilliant comeback in her singles match to clinch the winning point and send the Milwaukee women's tennis team past Northern Kentucky by a final score of 4-2 Friday afternoon in the Horizon League Championship at Varsity Tennis Center.
 
The Panthers (9-13) dominated the Norse (10-9) in doubles to start the day and then closed it out in impressive fashion in singles action when Tylek capped the #5/#4 tournament seed upset with her victory at No. 4.
 
"What an exhilarating match," head coach Ryan Kucera said. "Just a battle from start to finish. It took everyone. Our doubles point was excellent. All three courts brought it. We pressured them with our serves and returns, and the team was determined to finish the opportunities we created. Babs and Sara really attacked with confidence, that was huge to win in such dominating fashion this time around."
 
Babette Burgersdijk and Sara Simonova closed out Ashlee Fisk and Elizabeth Rozin first, grabbing a 6-1 decision. Not much later, Iva Stejskalova and Alice Shields closed out a dominant effort over NKU's No. 1 squad of Mariajose Hernandez and Laura Sola Grau by the same 6-1 scorelines and MKE had the doubles point.
 
Nadiia Konieva and Giorgia Cavestro were also ahead, 4-3, when the doubles point was clinched.
 
"From there we knew we had to buckle down for the long haul," Kucera said. "I am so proud of how we played with determination. We knew what we needed to execute on every court."
 
Burgersdijk came out firing, topping Rozin at No. 1 by a final score of 6-4, 6-2. NKU picked up its first point next, but Shields made it 3-1 with her effort at No. 3 singles, taking care of Sola Grau by a final of 6-2, 6-4.
 
"Babette set the tone," Kucera said. "She's been working so hard and it paid off for us today. Same with Alice, they displayed such great focus and played to win on the big points. It really took each athlete. Nadiia, Sara and Iva battled so hard. They left it all out there and kept responding. Their fight and determination kept the spirit of the team high and allowed for the other courts to come through."
 
After Simonova fell in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, it brought the Norse to within one at 3-2 with two courts left.
 
Tylek put her team on her back in her match, overcoming a huge deficit after dropping the first set (3-6) and trailing 4-1 in her second. She won five straight games to even the score at 1-1 and then claimed a 6-3 decision in the third set, setting off a huge celebration on the court with her teammates.
 
"I can't say enough about Anika," Kucera said. "Her competitive spirit was inspiring. She stayed so engaged, kept her trust even when at first things weren't falling her way. When we found the tactics she needed, she really took ahold of the match and wouldn't let go. Her performance was the epitome of what Panther Tennis is all about: heart, determination, and commitment. We are excited to be moving on!"
 
With the victory, Milwaukee moves on to the semifinal round, where it will take on top-seeded Youngstown State, who had a bye in the first round. The match is set to take place at 10 a.m. CST Saturday, but is subject to change based on the weather in Ann Arbor. Stay tuned to the MKE website and tennis Twitter for updates.
 
Singles competition
1. Babette Burgersdijk (MKE) def. Elizabeth Rozin (NKU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Ashlee Fisk (NKU) vs. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) 5-7, 6-2, 3-4, unfinished
3. Alice Shields (MKE) def. Laura Sola Grau (NKU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Anika Tylek (MKE) def. Ananya Kothakota (NKU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
5. Mariajose Hernandez (NKU) def. Sara Simonova (MKE) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
6. Sylvia Gray (NKU) def. Iva Stejskalova (MKE) 6-2, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Iva Stejskalova/Alice Shields (MKE) def. Mariajose Hernandez/Laura Sola Grau (NKU) 6-1
2. Babette Burgersdijk/Sara Simonova (MKE) def. Ashlee Fisk/Elizabeth Rozin (NKU) 6-1
3. Angela Rinaldi/Ananya Kothakota (NKU) vs. Nadiia Konieva/Giorgia Cavestro (MKE) 3-4, unfinished