WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Milwaukee women's tennis team fell in tiebreaker fashion in the deciding match of both doubles play and singles action in dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker to Northern Kentucky Friday in the Horizon League Tournament at Schwartz Tennis Center.
 
The Panthers (9-12) fought back from one-point deficits all afternoon against the Norse (6-11), only to barely get outlasted in the final match of the day as NKU escaped with the victory.
 
"I am very proud of the girls on a solid season," head coach Mark Goldin said. "This was not the way we wanted it to end, but we enjoyed every moment. We will miss the seniors next season but the program is excited to have them as lifelong friends. I am looking forward to next season and the future of Panther Tennis."
 
The day started in doubles, with Laure Razet and Sara Simonova giving the Panthers the first result with a 6-3 victory over Darya Gneydina and Angela Rinaldi at No. 2.
 
NKU evened it up with a win at No. 1 and then pulled out a dramatic 7-6 (7-4) win at No. 3 to grab the first point of the day.
 
The Norse then added a second point at No. 1 singles, but Simonova cut the deficit in half with a dominant 7-5, 6-0 decision over Mariajose Hernandez at No. 4. Simonova jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set before four straight had her behind 4-3. She righted the ship and won at 4-4, broke service to lead 5-4 before taking the 7-5 decision and momentum.
 
Babette Burgersdijk then made it 2-2 after a battle at No. 2, taking out Darya Gneydina 6-3, 7-5. Burgersdijk trailed in the second set 3-1 before rallying, breaking serve to lead 6-5 and then putting it away to level the overall match.
 
NKU would edge ahead again, grabbing a three-set win at No. 6, but the Panthers had the answer. This time it was Razet, winning a thriller over Alyssa Cameron at No. 3 singles, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Razet was up 3-1 early in the third set before Cameron battled back to square at 3-3. Razet then broke serve twice in the next three games to claim the victory and deadlock the team score at 3-3.
 
The thrilling finish was not in the cards, however, as the Norse pulled out the final decision by a scoreline of 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) to end the postseason run for the Panthers.
 
Northern Kentucky 4, Milwaukee Panthers 3
Singles competition
1. Ashlee Fisk (NKU) def. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) 6-2, 6-2
2. Babette Burgersdijk (MKE) def. Darya Gneydina (NKU) 6-3, 7-5
3. Laure Razet (MKE) def. Alyssa Cameron (NKU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Sara Simonova (MKE) def. Mariajose Hernandez (NKU) 7-5, 6-0
5. Angela Rinaldi (NKU) def. Emilia Durska (MKE) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
6. Catharina Cardosa (NKU) def. Evelina Anastasi (MKE) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Alyssa Cameron/Mariajose Hernandez (NKU) def. Babette Burgersdijk/Nadiia Konieva (MKE) 6-4
2. Laure Razet/Sara Simonova (MKE) def. Darya Gneydina/Angela Rinaldi (NKU) 6-3
3. Ashlee Fisk/Catharina Cardosa (NKU) def. Iva Stejskalova/Emilia Durska (MKE) 7-6 (7-4)