MILWAUKEE – Nadiia Konieva and Sara Simonova helped the Milwaukee women's tennis team get off to a fast start in doubles and kept it up from there, topping Youngstown State by a final score of 5-2 from River Glen Elite Friday.
 
Konieva then came through for the Panthers (6-10, 1-1 Horizon League) in singles action against the Penguins (8-10, 1-1 Horizon League) as well, clinching the match with her comeback victory at No. 2 singles. The 5-2 decision not only comes against the defending Horizon League Tournament champions, but also snaps what was an eight-match win streak YSU had in the series.
 
Konieva and Simonova made fast work of the YSU No. 1 doubles team to open the day, topping Yoana Dudova and Hanna Telzynska by a score of 6-1.
 
From there, Nel Van Hout and Laure Razet clinched the point for the Panthers, finishing off a 6-3 win at No. 2.
 
The squad also saw the return of Nikola Nikolajeva, who teamed with Elisa Rubio at No. 3 to mark her first action this season since late September. They were tied at 4-4 when the doubles point was clinched.
 
"We have been putting a lot of work in in doubles," head coach Mark Goldin said. "It was nice to get Nika [Nikolajeva] cleared to at least start with a doubles set this week. We've really missed her. And the doubles really gave us some good energy and momentum going into the singles."
 
The visitors responded with a win to open singles play, earning the decision at No. 5. Honoka Yamashita then gave MKE a big lift, handing her team a 2-1 lead with an impressive 6-1, 6-3 at No 6.
 
"Honoka's just been improving every week," Goldin said. "She's really taking advantage of her chances. With a couple players out, she's really stepped it up and filled that spot. She's been working hard. She's been getting close to some big matches and had some close losses. And today she came ready to play."
 
Van Hout was also a standout at the top of the lineup, closing out the two-set victory by coming back from serving down 0-40 in the final game of the second set to take the 6-4, 6-4 decision over Telzynska.
 
YSU pulled back a point at No. 3 and then Konieva closed out the result. She fought back after dropping the first set to win, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, over Lorena Cedeno.
 
Razet then did the same, overcoming her 1-0 deficit with a thriller at No. 4, taking the 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 decision to wrap up the match.
 
"At this point in the season, I'm not stressing as much about the injuries because I feel so confident in everyone in the lineup being able to step up," Goldin said. "I really think that all year it's been a good opportunity for people to step up and get some big wins in the lineup. And I am also looking forward to Nika potentially coming back too in a few weeks."
 
The team won't have much time to celebrate, returning to the court first thing tomorrow morning when it hosts Cleveland State. Match time gets underway bright and early at 8 a.m., with this home match being played at a different location. The two teams will battle at North Shore Elite, located at 5750 North Glen Park Road, Glendale, Wis., 53209.
 
Milwaukee 5, Youngstown State 2
Singles competition
1. Nel Van Hout (MKE) def. Hanna Telzynska (YSU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Nadiia Konieva (MKE) def. Lorena Cedeno (YSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Yeseniia Ovcharova (YSU) def. Sara Simonova (MKE) 6-3, 6-4
4. Laure Razet (MKE) def. Sarah Partida Garcia (YSU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
5. Line Greyling (YSU) def. Elisa Rubio (MKE) 6-0, 6-0
6. Honoka Yamashita (MKE) def. Yoana Dudova (YSU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Nadiia Konieva/Sara Simonova (MKE) def. Yoana Dudova/Hanna Telzynska (YSU) 6-1
2. Laure Razet/Nel Van Hout (MKE) def. Line Greyling/Yeseniia Ovcharova (YSU) 6-3
3. Nikola Nikolajeva/Elisa Rubio (MKE) vs. Lorena Cedeno/Sarah Partida Garcia (YSU) 4-4, unfinished