INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – Nadiia Konieva and Nel Van Hout both finished off perfect league regular-season records in singles play and the Milwaukee women's tennis team gave itself a chance to earn a share of the Horizon League regular-season title with a 5-2 victory over IU Indy Saturday from West Indy Racquet Club.
 
The Panthers (8-11, 3-2 Horizon League) dropped the doubles point against the Jaguars (6-6, 2-3 Horizon League) but dazzled from there in singles action, topping today's opponent for the 14^th time in their past 15 meetings.
 
"It was great to see us with a total bounce back from yesterday and I am very proud of the girls," head coach Mark Goldin said. "We will now have to see how the weekend plays out. Whatever seed we end up with, we are confident that if we play our game, we can beat anyone. We are looking forward to a good week of preparation."
 
At 3-2 this spring, Milwaukee is still in line to claim just its second regular-season title in program history, joining the list with the championship won back in the 2013-14 campaign. The team will have to wait and see how the rest of the weekend plays out across the conference, as Youngstown State currently sits at 3-1 with one match left Saturday evening, while Oakland is 2-1 stands with two matches left Saturday (against YSU) and Sunday (against Cleveland State).
 
After a tough doubles decision, the Panthers righted the ship quickly, getting wins from Konieva (6-0, 6-1 over Sara Jankovic at No. 2) and Van Hout (6-2, 6-3 over Kallyhan Kadzinski at No. 1) to jump ahead. In the process, each capped off perfect 5-0 individual conference records this spring in singles play.
 
Honoka Yamashita continued her great recent play at No. 6, defeating Bella Duncan 6-4, 6-4 to claim wins in singles and doubles on the day. Laure Razet then clinched the team win with her match on the No. 4 line, claiming the decision in three sets, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. Milwaukee got another welcome victory next, with Nikola Nikolajeva picking up her first singles win after returning from injury, knocking off Chloe Bailey 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 7-5 to close out the match.
 
Up next, the Panthers will head to Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, for the Horizon League Championships, held April 24-26. Final seeding, matchup dates, and times will be posted to the website when available.
 
Milwaukee 5, IU Indianapolis 2
Singles competition
1. Nel Van Hout (MKE) def. Kallyhan Kadzinski (IUINDY) 6-2, 6-3
2. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) def. Sara Jankovic (IUINDY) 6-0, 6-1
3. Calli Sokolowski (IUINDY) def. Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-3, 6-4
4. Nikola Nikolajeva (MKE) def. Chloe Bailey (IUINDY) 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 7-5
5. Laure Razet (MKE) def. Elle Kotre (IUINDY) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
6. Honoka Yamashita (MKE) def. Bella Duncan (IUINDY) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Kallyhan Kadzinski/Elle Kotre (IUINDY) def. Nadiia Konieva/Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-3
2. Calli Sokolowski/Sara Jankovic (IUINDY) def. Laure Razet/Nel Van Hout (MKE) 6-4
3. Elisa Rubio/Honoka Yamashita (MKE) def. Grace Lampman/Chloe Bailey (IUINDY) 6-1