The Milwaukee Panthers women’s tennis team will continue its homestand this weekend, hosting two non-conference matches at River Glen Elite. The first match is scheduled for Friday at noon against UIC, a former Horizon League rival. On Sunday, the Panthers will face St. Thomas at 11 a.m. Both matches are open to the public with free admission.
River Glen Elite is located at 2001 Good Hope Road in Milwaukee, about half a mile west of I-43 between River Hills and Glendale.
Milwaukee and UIC have maintained their series since UIC left the Horizon League. Historically, UIC has dominated the matchup, winning every league title from 1997 through 2013 and securing 19 titles overall. At one point, UIC had a regular-season winning streak of 146 consecutive matches against league opponents. Milwaukee last defeated UIC in 2014; last season, UIC won 7-0.
UIC finished last season with a record of 17-5 and claimed the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) title with a 7-1 conference record, earning its first NCAA Tournament appearance as an MVC member. Individual honors included Mayu Ushio being named MVC Player of the Year and Edit Cosmo earning MVC Freshman of the Year. Elizabeth Lumpkin Robinson became head coach in November 2023 and led her team to the MVC semifinals for the first time in program history during her initial season. The Flames improved to a 4-3 record this year after defeating Roosevelt on February 15.
Milwaukee will meet St. Thomas for only the second time in program history; St. Thomas won their previous meeting last spring by a score of 4-1. Head coach Colby Carlson is entering his third season leading St. Thomas, which finished last year with a record of 6-12 and was picked to finish fifth in this year’s Summit League preseason poll. Emilia Korseth was listed among athletes to watch for the Summit League this season. St. Thomas holds a current record of 3-2 after losing to Colorado Boulder on February 15.
Last week, Milwaukee split its matches—defeating Marquette for the second consecutive year and narrowly losing to University Chicago, ranked second nationally in NCAA Division III play.
Before last season’s win over Marquette, Milwaukee had not beaten them since 1990 but managed back-to-back victories thanks to Sara Simonova’s three-set comeback performance that clinched both wins.
Nel Van Hout received Horizon League Singles Player of the Week honors on February 18 after extending her singles win streak to seven matches dating back to fall play: “She defeated Marquette, 6-3, 6-3 at No.1 Friday before topping University of Chicago – the second-ranked team in NCAA DIII – by a score of 6-4,6-3 at No.2 singles.” She now holds an overall singles record of 13-1 this season.
The doubles team of Nadiia Konieva and Sara Simonova also earned recognition as Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week on February 18: “The honor is the third of Konieva and Simonova’s career, but the first together as a team.” They posted two wins over Marquette and University Chicago: “The duo overcame a four-two deficit at No.2 singles to defeat Marquette Friday…claiming the seven-five decision,” improving their doubles record as partners to nine wins and two losses this year.
This year’s roster includes student-athletes from eight countries—seven returners along with one sophomore transfer and one freshman—demonstrating diversity within NCAA Division I guidelines according to the official website. Nadiia Konieva leads returning players after being named All-Horizon League Second Team last year while playing No.1 singles and doubles; she led in doubles victories with sixteen wins outpacing most teammates overall.
Emilia Durska ended last season tied for most total victories (26), competing across multiple positions in both singles (14–13) and doubles (12–18). Nikola Nikolajeva also recorded twenty-six total wins (12–10 singles;14–9 doubles), mostly playing at No.2 singles before an injury late in spring.
Head coach Mark Goldin is now in his third year leading Milwaukee following prior roles as assistant coach from2009–2012and head coach elsewhere locally:”Goldin served as an assistant…helping improve from near bottom…to Top-three program.” Last year’s squad overcame injuries for an8–17record but achieved milestones such as defeating Oakland during postseason play en route totheHorizonLeague semifinalsand recordingthefirst-everwinagainstMarquetteinFebruary.Theteamiscomingoffasuccessfulfallcampaignwith24–15singlesand18–9doublesrecords.”
During fall competition,newcomer Nel Van Hout posted eighteen combined victories(8–1singles;10–2doubles),whileotherreturnersalsocontributedmultiplewinsacrossvariousinvitationalsandleagueevents.”
At home,thePanthershavebeenstrong,recentlypostingarecordof32–19overfive-plusyearsincluding10–3in2021.”
Following these home contests,thePantherswilltraveltofaceNorthernIowaonFebruary27andWesternIllinoisonFebruary28.”
As partoftheUniversityofWisconsin-Milwaukee’sathleticsprogram,theMilwaukeePanthersWomen’sTennisTeamcompetesindualmatchesandtournamentsunderNCAADivisionIguidelines,andstrivestosupportstudent-athletesbalancingacademicsandsportsaccordingtotheofficialwebsite.
