MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's tennis team battled all match against Oakland in its Horizon League opener Saturday afternoon, falling by a final score of 4-3 in a back-and-forth affair from River Glen Elite.
 
"The team fought super-hard," head coach Mark Goldin said. "I have to give credit to Dave [Oakland head coach David Brown] and his group. They've improved a ton since the fall and they came ready to play today. We had a lot of fun on court and it was definitely a result I can live with given the way they fought throughout."
 
The Golden Grizzlies (4-8, 1-0 Horizon League) pulled out a drama-filled doubles point to grab the early lead against the Panthers (6-11, 0-1 Horizon League) and did just enough to escape with the victory after the home side battled valiantly throughout singles play all afternoon.
 
"It came down to literally one point," Goldin said. "We had a few match points in doubles. I give Oakland credit for fighting as hard as we did but it's definitely a result we can live with and be proud of for our fight."
 
The No. 3 doubles team of Emilia Durska and Elisa Rubio rallied from an early 5-3 deficit, breaking serve down 0-30 to forge ahead late in a 6-4 decision.
 
It all came down to No. 2 doubles, where Laure Razet and Nikola Nikolajeva trailed 3-2 before surging ahead 5-3. Despite three opportunities at match point, the team was not able to finish off Oakland in falling, 7-5.
 
In singles action, Sara Simonova started things with an impressive victory at No. 6, taking care of Tara Montreuil 6-1, 6-4.
 
The visitors claimed wins at No. 2 and No. 5 before the action really turned up.
 
On court one, Nadiia Konieva closed out her matchup, overcoming Emilia Jarvinen 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 for the solid victory.
 
In both three and four singles, the Panthers put together tremendous rallies to force third sets on each court. At No. 4, Durska rallied from down 6-5 in the second to produce a decisive third set, falling just short 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4.
 
Razet faced a 5-4 deficit in the second but rallied to lead 6-5 before taking it to a third set with the 7-4 tiebreaker win. In the third, she led early and then held off Best Lee to take the 7-6 decision and complete the comeback thriller in a second tiebreak, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5).
 
Up next, the Panthers hit the road to continue Horizon League play, set for matches at Youngstown State Saturday (10 a.m. CT) and Cleveland State Sunday (9 a.m. CT).
 
Oakland 4, Milwaukee 3
Singles competition
1. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) def. Emilia Jarvinen (OU) 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3
2. Nisa Bulut (OU) def. Nikola Nikolajeva (MKE) 6-3, 6-1
3. Laure Razet (MKE) def. Warisara "Best" Lee (OU) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5)
4. Edie Hammond (OU) def. Emilia Durska (MKE) 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4
5. Martyna Piechowicz (OU) def. Elisa Rubio (MKE) 4-6, 6-0, 6-1
6. Sara Simonova (MKE) def. Tara Montreuil (OU) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Emilia Jarvinen/Edie Hammond (OU) def. Nadiia Konieva/Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-3
2. Martyna Piechowicz/Tara Montreuil (OU) def. Laure Razet/Nikola Nikolajeva (MKE) 7-5
3. Emilia Durska/Elisa Rubio (MKE) def. Nisa Bulut/Warisara "Best" Lee (OU) 6-4