CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Milwaukee women's tennis team wrapped up competition at the Horizon League Individual Championships at the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion over the weekend, with the team earning multiple victories in singles and doubles action throughout the three-day event.
"The team fought hard this weekend," head coach
Mark Goldin said. "The tournament was deep this year with Northern Illinois joining the conference. We had a chance to see the competition for the conference this year. We feel we gained a lot of knowledge, have some great match notes to work with, and understand what our goals are and where we need to be by spring season."
In singles play,
Valentina Vallova opened the championship with an impressive 6-1, 6-4 victory over Cleveland State's Anna McKnight. Vallova then battled Northern Illinois' Irmak Budak in the second round, dropping a 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-1 decision.
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero advanced through the opening round with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 comeback victory over Oakland's Isabella Jaray. She followed that with a 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) win over Cleveland State's Anna Mancino before falling to Youngstown State's Duru Kuscu, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2, in the third round.
Lexie Hankel also opened the tournament with a win, rallying past Cleveland State's Laura Tapia, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1. She then fell to Youngstown State's Duru Kuscu, 6-1, 6-4, in the second round.
Nikola Nikolajeva battled Youngstown State's Alice Petrache in the opening round before falling 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Nikolajeva bounced back in her consolation match, nearly blanking IU Indianapolis' Chloe Bailey, 6-0, 6-1.
Karolina Skowronska dropped a three-set opening-round decision to Oakland's Nisa Bulut, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, before responding with a thrilling 5-7, 6-3, 10-8 victory over Cleveland State's Leah Geisz in the consolation draw.
In doubles action, Castaneda Guerrero and Vallova opened with an 8-6 victory over IU Indianapolis' Brooke Ratcliff and Chloe Bailey. The Panther duo then faced Northern Illinois' Natalie Varela Herrera and Lucia Yecora in the second round, falling 8-1.
Skowronska and Rubio dropped their opening-round match to Oakland's Edie Hammond and Martina Marusinova, 8-0, while Rubio and Hankel fell to Cleveland State's Leah Geisz and Anna Mancino, 8-6.
"I am looking forward to two more weekends to compete and improve," Goldin said. "The girls are recovering from a long weekend, and I look forward to getting back on court."
The Horizon League Individual Championships were held Oct. 2-4 in Cleveland, with individual singles and doubles championships contested throughout the weekend. Irmak Budak of NIU claimed the singles title, with Oakland's tandem of Edie Hammond and Martina Marusinova picking up the doubles championship. Up next, the Panthers head to the Warhawk Fall Invite in Whitewater, set to be held this upcoming Friday and Saturday.
Horizon League Individual Championships
Singles competition
Alice Petrache (Youngstown State) def.
Nikola Nikolajeva (Milwaukee) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) def. Anna McKnight (Cleveland State) 6-1, 6-4
Jenna Redmile (Cleveland State) def.
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) 6-2, 6-4
Nisa Bulut (Oakland) def.
Karolina Skowronska (Milwaukee) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero (Milwaukee) def. Isabella Jaray (Oakland) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
Lexie Hankel (Milwaukee) def. Laura Tapia (Cleveland State) 5-7, 6-4, 6-1
Irmak Budak (Northern Illinois) def.
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-1
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero (Milwaukee) def. Anna Mancino (Cleveland State) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
Duru Kuscu (Youngstown State) def.
Lexie Hankel (Milwaukee) 6-1, 6-4
Nikola Nikolajeva (Milwaukee) def. Chloe Bailey (IU Indianapolis) 6-0, 6-1
Jenna Redmile (Cleveland State) def.
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) 6-2, 6-3
Karolina Skowronska (Milwaukee) def. Leah Geisz (Cleveland State) 5-7, 6-3, 10-8
Duru Kuscu (Youngstown State) def.
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero (Milwaukee) 4-6, 6-0, 6-2
Doubles competition
Edie Hammond/Martina Marusinova (Oakland) def.
Karolina Skowronska/
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) 8-0
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero/
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) def. Brooke Ratcliff/Chloe Bailey (IU Indianapolis) 8-6
Leah Geisz/Anna Mancino (Cleveland State) def.
Elisa Rubio/
Lexie Hankel (Milwaukee) 8-6
Natalie Varela Herrera/Lucia Yecora (Northern Illinois) def. Natalie Castaneda Guerrero/
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) 8-1
Jenna Redmile/M. Petkova Mustafa (Cleveland State) def.
Nikola Nikolajeva/
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) 6-3
Hanan Awale/Kally Kadzinski (IU Indianapolis) def.
Karolina Skowronska/
Lexie Hankel (Milwaukee) 6-0
