ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Sara Simonova overcome a 3-1 deficit in the third set and pulled out the 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 victory to send the Milwaukee women's tennis team to a thrilling 4-2 upset win over Oakland Friday morning in the Horizon League Championships at the Varsity Tennis Center.
 
The Panthers (8-16) came into the event at the No. 6 seed but played well all match against the third-seeded Golden Grizzlies (7-11), starting off with the doubles point before earning the postseason victory with strong play in singles action.
 
"I am so proud of the girls," head coach Mark Goldin said. "We fought so hard to get through the injuries we have had. We stayed positive and mentally tough to give ourselves the best chance to win and in the end, it paid off."
 
After taking care of doubles with wins at No. 1 and No. 2, the big points came from Simonova and Nadiia Konieva in singles action. Konieva dug out of an early 3-1 deficit in set one before rallying. Simonova was down 3-1 in the decisive third set before earning the impressive comeback victory to clinch the match.
 
"Nadiia saved four set points in the first set and was down 5-4 in the second," Goldin said. "Sara faced a tough 3-1 deficit in the third before coming back to clinch. They both won in singles and doubles today as well."
 
Doubles play got MKE off on the right foot, with Konieva and Simonova quickly taking care of Edie Hammond and Emilia Jarvinen, 6-1 at No. 1. The No. 2 doubles squad of Laure Razet and Nikola Nikolajeva then defeated Ida Hulqvist and Martyna Piechowicz, 6-3, to grab the 1-0 team lead.
 
Oakland responded well to start off singles action, picking up wins at No. 4 and No. 2 to slip ahead 2-1 overall. Elisa Rubio then knocked off Tara Montreuil at No. 5 by a score of 6-4, 6-3 to get the match back to even at 2-2.
 
Konieva secured her win over Jarvinen by a 7-5, 6-4 score next, giving the Panthers the 3-2 lead with two matches remaining.
 
Simonova rolled out to a quick start with a 6-0 win in set one, but was back to even after a 6-4 loss in the second. Down 3-1 in the third, she broke serve to make it 3-2, held serve to tie it up at 3-3 and never dropped another game in the 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 decision.
 
Razet was also in her third set and was ahead when the match was clinched, 7-5, 4-6, 3-1 at No. 3.
 
Up next, the Panthers advance to the semifinals Saturday, where they will take on second-seeded Youngstown State. Action gets underway from the Varsity Tennis Center at 10 a.m. CT.
 
Milwaukee 4, Oakland 2
Singles competition
1. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) def. Emilia Jarvinen (OU) 7-5, 6-4
2. Nisa Bulut (OU) def. Nikola Nikolajeva (MKE) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Edie Hammond (OU) vs. Laure Razet (MKE) 5-7, 6-4, 1-3, unfinished
4. Martyna Piechowicz (OU) def. Emilia Durska (MKE) 6-3, 6-4
5. Elisa Rubio (MKE) def. Tara Montreuil (OU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Sara Simonova (MKE) def. Ida Hulqvist (OU) 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Nadiia Konieva/Sara Simonova (MKE) def. Edie Hammond/Emilia Jarvinen (OU) 6-1
2. Laure Razet/Nikola Nikolajeva (MKE) def. Ida Hulqvist/Martyna Piechowicz (OU) 6-3
3. Nisa Bulut/Tara Montreuil (OU) vs. Emilia Durska/Elisa Rubio (MKE) 5-4, unfinished