MILWAUKEE – Sara Simonova pulled out a performance for the ages for the Milwaukee women's tennis team Friday night, forcing a third set at No. 5 singles to set up a winner-take-all finale for the clinching point against Marquette from Sprovieri Tennis Complex.
 
With the Panthers (2-4) and Golden Eagles (2-6) sitting on a 3-3 overall tie and everyone gathered to watch the final singles match, Simonova overcame deficits of 3-0 and 4-1, breaking serve three different times – including in the final game where she clinched the 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory in style and set off the celebration with her teammates.
 
"So proud of the team," head coach Mark Godin said. "This was truly a TEAM effort to get this win. We are still missing a few key players from the lineup and had the 'next-up' mentality. Marquette had a great group tonight and we always enjoy the battle of Milwaukee. They play hard and play fair and we always enjoy the competition. Their new coach Brett Barnett really had them fighting hard today."
 
Last year's 4-3 victory over Marquette actually marked the first for the Panthers in the 35-year history of the all-time series (had been 0-22 dating back to 1990). Well, the team waited all of 376 days to add the second.
 
"Nel won both singles and doubles and Sara and Nadiia saved two match points with doubles on the line," Goldin said of the additional highlights. "And our injured players did an amazing job cheering and were a huge part of this win by how they helped us prepare and cheered us on."
 
Doubles were intense to start the night, with momentum going back and forth. The Golden Eagles took the first decision, claiming a 6-2 win at No. 3.
 
Milwaukee turned it around at No. 1, with Nel Van Hout and Emilia Durska using comeback mode to get back into the match. Down 5-4, they held serve to get back to even at 5-5 and then broke back to surge ahead, 6-5, before claiming the 7-6 decision.
 
The No. 2 matchup was just as intense, with the tandem of Nadiia Konieva and Simonova overcoming a 4-2 hole of their own to claw back, fighting off two match points before claiming a 7-5 decision and grab the doubles point for the Panthers.
 
Singles got crazier as the night went on. Marquette made it 1-1 with a win at No. 3 before Van Hout ran her singles win streak to six consecutive with a 6-3, 6-3 decision at No. 1, topping Elise Barnstedt to pick up the next point.
 
Konieva put MKE back ahead with an impressive 6-3, 6-2 result over Emma Davis at No. 2 to give her team the convincing 3-1 lead on the match.
 
From there, the Golden Eagles pushed back, with the home side winning at No. 4 and No. 6 lines to even the match at 3-3.
 
It all came down to Simonova, who pulled out the improbable decision after dropping the first set and trailing so heavily in the third to push Milwaukee to a second consecutive win in the series – after never having done so in the city rivalry before last season.
 
The team will have a day off after the marathon match tonight, welcoming the University of Chicago for a home match Sunday. Start time is set for 10 a.m. from River Glen Elite.
 
Milwaukee 4, Marquette 3
Singles competition
1. Nel Van Hout (MKE) def. Elise Barnstedt (MARQ) 6-3, 6-3
2. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) def. Emma Davis (MARQ) 6-3, 6-2
3. Maria Poon (MARQ) def. Emilia Durska (MKE) 6-2, 6-1
4. Aiyanna Abbott (MARQ) def. Honoka Yamashita (MKE) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Sara Simonova (MKE) def. Luciana Mendoza (MARQ) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
6. Elena Duva (MARQ) def. Svava Schroeder (MKE) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Emilia Durska/Nel Van Hout (MKE) def. Elise Barnstedt/Emma Davis (MARQ) 7-6
2. Nadiia Konieva/Sara Simonova (MKE) def. Elena Duva/Maria Poon (MARQ) 7-5
3. Luciana Mendoza/Aiyanna Abbott (MARQ) def. Svava Schroeder/Honoka Yamashita (MKE) 6-2