DES MOINES, Iowa – The Milwaukee women's tennis team opened the 2024 campaign Friday, taking on Drake at Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
The Bulldogs (1-2) fought back and claimed the doubles point against the Panthers (0-1) to open the match and used that momentum to take the contest by a final score of 4-0.
"The girls fought hard," head coach
Mark Goldin said. "Drake has a strong roster and already has a few duals under its belt this season. This was our first action against outside competition since October and we were competing hard at every spot."
Milwaukee got a big win at No. 3 doubles to open the day, seeing
Iva Stejskalova and
Emilia Durska take down their opponents by a final score of 6-2 to get things started.
The No. 1 MKE team took an early lead but was unable to hold on, so it came down to No. 2 doubles.
Babette Burgersdijk and
Sara Simonova battled back to even at 5-5, but fell in a tough match 7-5 for Drake to get the point.
"Congratulations to Emilia on winning doubles in her first-ever college match, playing with Iva who was battling injury," Goldin said. "It was a solid start and we are looking forward to getting back on the court tomorrow."
The Panthers were battling back in a few singles spots before the Bulldogs clinched the match at 4-0.
The team is back at it tomorrow, heading to Northern Iowa for a match set to start at 1 p.m.
Drake 4, Milwaukee Panthers 0
Singles competition
1. Ines Stephani (DRAKE) def.
Babette Burgersdijk (MKE) 6-1, 6-0
2.
Nadiia Konieva (MKE) vs. Mille Haagensen (DRAKE) no result
3. Elizabete Klavinska (DRAKE) def.
Emilia Durska (MKE) 6-4, 6-3
4.
Laure Razet (MKE) vs. Rebecca Ehn (DRAKE) no result
5.
Sara Simonova (MKE) vs. Darinka Stepan (DRAKE) no result
6. Nicole Lee (DRAKE) def.
Evelina Anastasi (MKE) 6-0, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Darinka Stepan/Mille Haagensen (DRAKE) def.
Laure Razet/
Nadiia Konieva (MKE) 6-4
2. Ines Stephani/Rebecca Ehn (DRAKE) def.
Babette Burgersdijk/
Sara Simonova (MKE) 7-5
3.
Iva Stejskalova/
Emilia Durska (MKE) def. Elizabete Klavinska/Nicole Lee (DRAKE) 6-2
