Milwaukee City Wire

The Milwaukee women's tennis team is preparing for the final two matches of its regular season. The Panthers aim to improve their seeding for the Horizon League Tournament as they face Northern Kentucky and IUPUI on the road.

Milwaukee will first compete against Northern Kentucky at Five Seasons Sports Club on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT. The regular season will conclude with a match against IUPUI at West Indy Racquet Club on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. CT.

Currently, the Panthers hold a 7-11 overall record and are 1-3 in league play following a recent loss to Chicago State. Historically, Milwaukee has fared well against both upcoming opponents, holding a 6-3 record against Northern Kentucky and a 15-7 record against IUPUI, including winning the last 12 consecutive matches against the Jaguars.

Northern Kentucky enters the weekend with a 5-9 overall record and is 2-2 in conference play. Sylvia Gray and Ananya Kothakota lead their team in singles victories, while Laura Grau excels in doubles wins. Head coach Brian Nester is leading the Norse in his twelfth season.

IUPUI, led by head coach Pawel Gajdzik since August 2022, holds an 8-10 overall record but is yet to secure a win in league play this season. Elle Kotre leads their singles play, while Gabbie Orlando leads in doubles victories.

Milwaukee's Nadiia Konieva and Sara Simonova were recently named to the Horizon League Valeo All-Academic Team, marking the third consecutive year that two Panthers have received this honor.

In doubles action, Babette Burgersdijk and Nadiia Konieva went undefeated last week against top teams from Cleveland State and Youngstown State. Giorgia Cavestro was also recognized as part of the Lubar 25 program for her academic achievements at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Nadiia Konieva continues to have a strong season with a current singles record of 15-8 and notable performances alongside her doubles partner Babette Burgersdijk.

First-year head coach Mark Goldin remains optimistic about leading the Panthers into postseason success after previously serving as head coach at Cardinal Stritch University where he achieved significant accolades.

The team's roster features players from seven different countries including five returners, one transfer student, and two freshmen. Notably, Nadiia Konieva was named All-Horizon League First Team and Freshman of the Year last season.

Looking ahead, Milwaukee aims to qualify among the top six teams for participation in the Horizon League Tournament scheduled from April 26-28 at Schwartz Tennis Center in West Lafayette, Indiana.