CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Milwaukee women's tennis team opened its spring break trip with a tough matchup, falling to Chattanooga Wednesday afternoon in a contest that was much closer than final score indicated at the UTC Tennis Center.
 
The Panthers (6-7) dropped a tight doubles point, 2-1, to the Mocs (7-7) and then battled throughout a tough afternoon without the results to show for it against a UTC team that has now won three of its past four on the season.
 
Emilia Durska provided a huge highlight for the team, coming up victorious in both singles and doubles play. She steadily took care of Alice Hall at No. 5, 6-4, 6-4; while also teaming with Iva Stejskalova at No. 3 doubles to outlast Emma Peeler and Emma Pedretti, 7-5.
 
"The team fought hard and we made them earn every point," head coach Mark Goldin said. "We continue to improve every day and will take full advantage of the 10 days we have remaining before conference play begins to be ready both physically and mentally."
 
Despite dropping the first three singles decisions, MKE still had a path to victory with Durska grabbing the first team point and both Nadiia Konieva (No. 2 singles) and Sara Simonova (No. 4 singles) claiming first-set victories. Things did not go as planned at that point, with Konieva falling 10-5 in a third-set tie-break.
 
"Big thank you to Coach (Chad) Camper for hosting us at their beautiful facility," Goldin said of the UTC program. "Looking forward to another big challenge tomorrow against Georgia Gwinnett, which will also be our last match before conference play."
 
The Panthers wrap up their spring break trip with a matchup against NAIA-power Georgia Gwinnett, a program that has won the past seven consecutive NAIA National Championships. The match will get underway at 10 a.m. CT.
 
Chattanooga 6, Milwaukee 1
Singles competition
1. Rozalie Dohnalova (UTC) def. Babette Burgersdijk (MKE) 6-1, 6-3
2. Madlena Orlova (UTC) def. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) 4-6, 6-2, 10-5
3. Caroline Gibbens (UTC) def. Laure Razet (MKE) 6-3, 6-4
4. Emma Peeler (UTC) def. Sara Simonova (MKE) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
5. Emilia Durska (MKE) def. Alice Hall (UTC) 6-4, 6-4
6. Margaret Manolache (UTC) def. Iva Stejskalova (MKE) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Rozalie Dohnalova/Alice Hall (UTC) def. Laure Razet/Nadiia Konieva (MKE) 6-3
2. Madlena Orlova/Caroline Gibbens (UTC) def. Babette Burgersdijk/Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-3
3. Iva Stejskalova/Emilia Durska (MKE) def. Emma Peeler/Emma Pedretti (UTC) 7-5