DeLAND, Fla. – The Milwaukee women's tennis team opened up its Florida trip Wednesday morning, taking on North Alabama from the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
 
"The girls fought hard today against a very tough team," head coach Mark Goldin said. "The final score certainly did not reflect how competitive the match was."
 
The Panthers (5-9), who are still playing shorthanded due to injuries in the lineup, ended up falling to the Lions (13-3) by a final score of 7-0. NAU has now won 12 of its past 13 matches.
 
"It was a tough matchup, but we are getting some really good training in down here and feeling good about everyone getting healthy and getting ready for conference play," Goldin added.
 
NAU took the doubles point, winning at No. 3 and No. 1. The matchup at No. 2 went unfinished, with Nel Van Hout and Laure Razet playing well and even at 3-3 when the doubles point was clinched.
 
In singles play, MKE was not able to overcome strong play from North Alabama, but was highlighted by Van Hout at No. 1 singles, who nearly handed Emma Ansorge (12-1) just her second loss of the year. Van Hout won the opening set, 7-5. After Ansorge pulled out a 7-6 tiebreak win in set two, she closed it out with a 10-4 decision in the third set super tiebreaker.
 
The Panthers are right back at it tomorrow, taking on host Stetson. Match time against the Hatters is set to get underway at 9 a.m. CT.

North Alabama 7, Milwaukee 0
Singles competition
1. Emma Ansorge (NAU) def. Nel Van Hout (MKE) 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 10-4
2. Eeva Ristola (NAU) def. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) 6-2, 6-3
3. Mathilde Delaney (NAU) def. Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-1, 6-0
4. Sammie Schouten (NAU) def. Laure Razet (MKE) 6-2, 6-3
5. Louise Booker (NAU) def. Elisa Rubio (MKE) 6-1, 6-2
6. Senem Ocal (NAU) def. Honoka Yamashita (MKE) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Emma Ansorge/Mathilde Delaney (NAU) def. Nadiia Konieva/Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-2
2. Farah Asaad/Eeva Ristola (NAU) vs. Laure Razet/Nel Van Hout (MKE) 3-3, unfinished
3. Louise Booker/Sammie Schouten (NAU) def. Elisa Rubio/Honoka Yamashita (MKE) 6-1