The Milwaukee women’s tennis team is preparing to start their Horizon League season this weekend with a match against Oakland. The teams will compete at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at River Glen Elite, the primary venue for MKE Tennis, located on Good Hope Road in Milwaukee. Attendance is free for spectators.
The Panthers have concluded their non-conference matches with a 6-10 record, after a challenging trip to Florida where they faced Connecticut, Morgan State, and NJIT. Despite dealing with injuries and a shortened roster, they are poised for the upcoming league matches.
Oakland finished their previous season with a 5-14 record, including a 1-6 record in league play. Coached by David Brown, who has been with the team since August 2021, the Golden Grizzlies finished their non-league games with a 3-8 record this year. Their most recent outings resulted in losses against Wayne State and Bowling Green.
In individual performances, Nikola Nikolajeva has stood out for the Panthers. Her efforts in recent matches, including a significant victory over Western Illinois, earned her Horizon League Singles Player of the Week honors. Her performances have been crucial in securing wins for Milwaukee.
Milwaukee made history earlier this season by defeating Marquette, a first in the program’s history. They also hold a 2-0 record against Big East opponents after wins against Providence and Marquette. Nadiia Konieva and Nikola Nikolajeva have been recognized as the Under Armour Horizon League Tennis Doubles Team of the Week for their performances this season.
The Panthers, led by second-year head coach Mark Goldin, aim to build on their previous season’s success, where they ended as the No. 4 seed in the Horizon League Tournament. Goldin, a familiar face within the Milwaukee tennis circuit, has helped the team ascend from the bottom of the league standings to a competitive position.
The team’s roster is diverse, featuring players from seven different countries. Key returner Nadiia Konieva leads the team following a commendable last season. The fall preseason saw the Panthers competing in various tournaments in the Midwest, showing promising results.
In the coming weeks, Milwaukee will continue Horizon League play with away matches against Youngstown State and Cleveland State.
