MILWAUKEE – It all came down to the final singles match of the afternoon for the second time in three days, but this time the Milwaukee women's tennis team came up on the tough end of the 4-3 decision, falling to the University of Chicago Sunday afternoon at River Glen Elite.
 
The Panthers (2-5) took care of the Maroons (4-1) in doubles action, nearly claiming the overall win over the No. 2 team at the NCAA Division III level when the visitors outlasted the home side for the three-set victory at No. 4 singles.
 
"The team battled hard and we are improving in every match," head coach Mark Goldin said. "The girls left it all on the court today, and although we ended up short, this is a result we can live with knowing that we did everything in our control to get the best result."
 
Doubles were great from top to bottom for the Panthers, with Nadiia Konieva and Sara Simonova defeating Lauren Khou and Charlotte Klein 6-3 to start the action. Right behind that result, Emilia Durska and Nel Van Hout teamed up at No. 1 doubles to claim the point with a 6-4 decision. It was all MKE, with Honoka Yamashita and Svava Schroeder ahead at No. 3, 5-3, when the point was clinched and that match went unfinished.
 
Van Hout quickly made it 2-0 Milwaukee, recording her seventh consecutive singles match victory on the season with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Anika Paul at No. 2.
 
UChicago then leveled the scoreboard with wins at No. 6 and No. 5 to make it 2-2 and clawed ahead, 3-2, with a result at No. 3 singles.
 
Konieva closed out her two-set win with a tiebreaker victory at 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), making it 3-3 overall and setting the stage for the final match to determine the day.
 
It was Simonova again, who put together a phenomenal comeback effort Friday night to finish off the 4-3 win over Marquette. Simonova went extra to get to a third set, but couldn't finish off the comeback, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
 
"It came down to Sara (Simonova) again," Goldin said. "She was up 4-3 in the third but unfortunately lost in the end. We are looking forward to a big week of training to continue to improve for conference season coming up in March."
 
The Panthers remain home for the upcoming weekend, welcoming UIC Friday and St. Thomas Sunday. Milwaukee and the Flames are set to get underway at 12 p.m. Friday from River Glen Elite.
 
#2 University of Chicago 4, Milwaukee 3
Singles competition
1. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) def. Sarena Biria (UCHICAGO) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Nel Van Hout (MKE) def. Anika Paul (UCHICAGO) 6-4, 6-3
3. Clara Zou (UCHICAGO) def. Emilia Durska (MKE) 6-1, 7-5
4. Tina Kintiroglou (UCHICAGO) def. Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
5. Lily Zawenah (UCHICAGO) def. Honoka Yamashita (MKE) 6-3, 6-1
6. Isabelle Chong (UCHICAGO) def. Svava Schroeder (MKE) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Emilia Durska/Nel Van Hout (MKE) def. Oliwia Mikos/Lily Zawenah (UCHICAGO) 6-4
2. Nadiia Konieva/Sara Simonova (MKE) def. Lauren Khou/Charlotte Klein (UCHICAGO) 6-3
3. Honoka Yamashita/Svava Schroeder (MKE) vs. Sarena Biria/Anika Paul (UCHICAGO) 5-3, unfinished