The Milwaukee women’s tennis team is set to resume its spring schedule after a nearly two-week break. The Panthers, currently holding a 4-6 overall record, will face Western Illinois on Saturday and travel to play against Whitewater on Sunday.
Saturday’s match against the Leathernecks will take place at River Glen Elite in Milwaukee, starting at 1 p.m. Admission is free for attendees. On Sunday, the Panthers will head to Lake Geneva Tennis & Pickleball for their match against the Warhawks, also scheduled for 1 p.m.
Western Illinois enters the matchup with a 4-5 record this season. “The new campaign is already much more promising,” according to second-year head coach Luke Ogren. The Leathernecks have been picked third in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll.
Milwaukee has a strong history against Western Illinois, boasting a 10-3 all-time record with nine consecutive victories. Key players for Western Illinois include Nour Gueblaoui (4-3), Mana Fawcett (4-4), and Paige Grice (4-4) in singles play.
The series against Whitewater shows Milwaukee leading with a 13-6 advantage. The Warhawks have an impressive NCAA D-III program and have claimed the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title for 18 consecutive seasons. Frank Barnes was named league coach of the year for the tenth time in his career.
Earlier this month, Milwaukee made history by defeating Marquette for the first time ever on February 2nd. This victory marked a perfect 2-0 record against Big East teams this season, including a win over Providence on January 26th.
Nadiia Konieva and Nikola Nikolajeva were recognized as the Under Armour Horizon League Tennis Doubles Team of the Week on January 29th after securing victories over Bradley and Providence.
Expectations are high under second-year head coach Mark Goldin, who was appointed in August 2023. Goldin aims to build upon last season’s performance where Milwaukee finished as the No. 4 seed in the Horizon League Tournament.
The current roster includes five returners and three freshmen from seven different countries. Leading returner Nadiia Konieva concluded last season with notable records in both singles and doubles play.
This fall, Milwaukee participated in tournaments across Minnesota, Illinois, and Ohio with Emilia Durska and Nikola Nikolajeva leading singles performances.
Looking ahead, Milwaukee will host Northern Iowa next Saturday at River Glen Elite with an 11:30 a.m. start time.
