MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Milwaukee women's tennis team was on the court over the weekend for the first time this fall season, competing at the Gopher Invitational at the Baseline Tennis Center from Friday through Sunday.
The Panthers put together a strong showing against a competitive field, finishing the event with a record of 12-8 in singles play and 10-5 in doubles action.
"We had a solid weekend and the Gopher Invitational was a success," head coach
Mark Goldin said. "The entire team competed at a high level with a ton of success. They showed resilience and mental toughness, and most importantly, supported each other throughout the entire weekend."
Leading the charge in the event was a pair of 3-0 marks in singles, put together by
Elisa Rubio and freshman Vallentina Vallova. Another freshman,
Lexie Hankel, was 2-1 in singles play, while returner
Nikola Nikolajeva also added a pair of victories.
"The two freshmen, Lexie (Hankel) and Valentina (Vallova), stole the show on day one, both going 2-0 in doubles and 1-0 in singles to complete an undefeated debut in their first day competing as a Panther," Goldin said. "It was a great start to the season, and we can't wait for Horizon League Individual Championships next weekend."
In doubles play, Hankel and Nikolajeva each posted identical 4-1 marks, going 2-0 as a tandem. Vallova recorded three victories in five matches, while newcomers Natalia Casteneda Guerrero and
Karolina Skowronska also finished 3-2 on the weekend in doubles competition.
Hankel and Vallova opened Friday by each winning their first collegiate matches, with Hankel topping Yangjiaxin Li from Northern Iowa by a score of 6-0, 6-2, while Vallova took care of Alize Yarwood of St. Thomas by a score of 6-2, 6-3.
Doubles play was strong Friday, with the Panthers posting a 5-1 record including wins over host Minnesota (Casteneda Guerrero/Vallova W 6-3) and Marquette (Hankel/Nikolajeva W 6-1).
Milwaukee closed out Sunday with an excellent day in singles as well, finishing 5-2 in its seven matches.
Up next, the team heads to the Horizon League Individual Championships, set to tale place October 1-4.
Gopher Invitational at Minneapolis, Minn. (Baseline Tennis Center)
Singles competition
Friday
Lexie Hankel (Milwaukee) def. Yangjiaxin Li (Northern Iowa) 6-0, 6-2
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) def. Alize Yarwood (St. Thomas) 6-2, 6-3
Natalie Varela Herrera (Northern Illinois) def.
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero (Milwaukee) 6-3, 6-1
Theodora Kousiou (Northern Illinois) def.
Nikola Nikolajeva (Milwaukee) 6-0, 6-7 (4-7), 11-9
Lea Holmlund (Marquette) def.
Karolina Skowronska (Milwaukee) 3-6, 6-4, 10-5
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) def. Kayla Santosa (Northern Iowa) 6-3, 6-2
Elena Duva (Marquette) def.
Honoka Yamashita (Milwaukee) 6-2, 6-2
Saturday
Anlin Xie (Minnesota) def.
Karolina Skowronska (Milwaukee) 6-2, 6-4
Lizzie Stuckslager (Marquette) def.
Nikola Nikolajeva (Milwaukee) 6-3, 6-3
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) def. Elena Duva (Marquette) 4-6, 6-3, 11-9
Lexie Hankel (Milwaukee) def. Anna Louise Bjornestad (St. Thomas) 6-0, 7-6 (7-5)
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) def. Abbie Peterson (Northern Iowa) 2-6, 6-3, 12-10
Nikola Nikolajeva (Milwaukee) def. Lucia Schuknecht (Northern Iowa), by withdrawal
Sunday
Nikola Nikolajeva (Milwaukee) def. Leina Gao (Minnesota) 6-1, 6-2
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero (Milwaukee) def. Jeselle Ante (Minnesota) 5-5, retired
Karolina Skowronska (Milwaukee) def. Anna Sidorenko (St. Thomas) 6-4, 6-2
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) def. Kate Thorne (Marquette) 4-6, 6-1, 10-5
Reb. Garcia Miralles (Northern Illinois) def.
Lexie Hankel (Milwaukee) 6-2, 6-3
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) def. Aiyana Abbott (Marquette) 6-4, 6-1
Kayla Santosa (Northern Iowa) def.
Honoka Yamashita (Milwaukee) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
Friday
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero/
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) def. Anna Sidorenko/Lily Olson (St. Thomas) 6-1
Karolina Skowronska/
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) def. Lucia Schuknecht/Andrea Noa Galin (Northern Iowa) 6-3
Lexie Hankel/
Nikola Nikolajeva (Milwaukee) def. Kate Thorne/Aiyana Abbott (Marquette) 6-1
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero/
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) def. Anali Kocevar/Kamea Medora (Minnesota) 6-3
Irmak Budak/Reb. Garcia Miralles (Northern Illinois) def.
Karolina Skowronska/
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) 6-2
Lexie Hankel/
Nikola Nikolajeva (Milwaukee) def. Sophia Shiyakhta/Paulina Masherova (Northern Illinois) 6-3
Leina Gao/Miranda Noor (Drake) def.
Honoka Yamashita (Milwaukee)/Kayla Santosa (UNI) 6-2
Saturday
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero/
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) def. Anali Kocevar/Anlin Xie (Minnesota) 6-0
Nikola Nikolajeva/
Karolina Skowronska (Milwaukee) def. Anna Sidorenko/Ingrid Forsberg (St. Thomas) 6-1
Lexie Hankel/
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) def. A. Louise Bjornestad/Soneera Kavya (St. Thomas) 6-2
Emilia Korseth/Carolina Lindahl (St. Thomas) def.
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero/
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) 6-4
Theodora Kousiou/Iben Storkaas (Northern Illinois) def.
Nikola Nikolajeva/
Karolina Skowronska (Milwaukee) 7-5
Paulina Masherova/Sophia Shiyakhta (Northern Illinois) def.
Lexie Hankel/
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) 6-0
Sunday
Ingrid Forsberg/Else Vander Stichele (St. Thomas) def.
Natalia Castaneda Guerrero/
Valentina Vallova (Milwaukee) 6-4
Nikola Nikolajeva/
Karolina Skowronska (Milwaukee) def. Andrea Noa Galin/Abbie Peterson (Northern Iowa) 6-1
Lexie Hankel/
Elisa Rubio (Milwaukee) def. Anna Sidorenko/Anna Louise Bjornestad (St. Thomas) 6-2
