MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's tennis team battled throughout the afternoon but came up just short against a very good SIUE team Saturday afternoon at River Glen Elite, falling 5-2.
 
The Panthers (4-4) did start the day by taking the doubles point against the Cougars (4-0) – a team that went 17-5 in 2023 and advanced to the OVC Championship match – only to see the visitors regain momentum with wins on the singles side.
 
"It was definitely another hard-fought battle," head coach Mark Goldin said. "We have our match notes to review and prepare for next week's practice. If we keep working hard and continue to improve at the rate we have been, I am excited about how our level will be going into conference season."
 
After SIUE picked up a 3-1 lead, a pair of Milwaukee players posted comebacks and sent their matches to a third set to give MKE a chance at victory, only to see each of the late three-set matches go the way of the Cougars to escape with the victory.
 
"We will take it one day at a time with the goal of improving every single day," Goldin said. "Our mental toughness and fitness are at top level and we can't wait to get back to work."
 
Milwaukee got the best of doubles play when it picked up wins at No. 1 and No. 3. Laure Razet and Nadiia Konieva topped Jill Lambrechts and Jordan Schifano 7-5, at the top and Emilia Durska and Iva Stejskalova gave the team the point with a 6-3 decision over Margaux Guibal Britt and Cydney Rogers.
 
The visitors then claimed wins at No. 1, No. 6, and No. 3 to forge ahead, 3-1. Konieva then finished off Margaux Guibal Britt 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 to make it 3-2 with two matches yet to be decided.
 
Razet battled hard and forced the third set. Down 2-1, she was up 4-3 before Amelia Gorman edged out the 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 decision and clinched the team win.
 
At No. 5, Sara Simonova broke serve down 6-5 and then won the tiebreaker to force a third, only to come up just short in the 6-3, 6-7 (2-9), 7-6 (9-2) heartbreaker.
 
Up next, the team hits the road to take on Illinois State Sunday. The match is set to start at 12 p.m.
 
SIUE 5, Milwaukee Panthers 2
Singles competition
1. Jill Lambrechts (SIUE) def. Babette Burgersdijk (MKE) 6-4, 6-2
2. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) def. Margaux Guibal Britt (SIUE) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
3. Jordan Schifano (SIUE) def. Emilia Durska (MKE) 6-4, 7-6 (9-6)
4. Amelia Gorman (SIUE) def. Laure Razet (MKE) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
5. Stefaniya Anikina (SIUE) def. Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-3, 6-7 (2-9), 7-6 (9-2)
6. Fabiola Perez (SIUE) def. Iva Stejskalova (MKE) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Laure Razet/Nadiia Konieva (MKE) def. Jill Lambrechts/Jordan Schifano (SIUE) 7-5
2. Amelia Gorman/Stefaniya Anikina (SIUE) def. Babette Burgersdijk/Sara Simonova (MKE) 7-6
3. Emilia Durska/Iva Stejskalova (MKE) def. Margaux Guibal Britt/Cydney Rogers (SIUE) 6-3