Milwaukee City Wire

The Milwaukee women's tennis team is set to conclude its regular season with two crucial Horizon League matches this weekend. The outcomes of these games are significant as the conference standings are tight, with only the top six teams advancing to the postseason. The Panthers will face IU Indianapolis on Friday and Northern Kentucky on Saturday, both starting at 11:30 a.m. at River Glen Elite.

The final home game against Northern Kentucky will also serve as "Senior Day" for Giorgia Cavestro, the team's only senior player. The Panthers currently have a 7-14 overall record with a 1-3 conference mark. They recently secured a victory against Chicago State with a 7-0 score.

Historically, the Panthers have strong records against their upcoming opponents, holding a 16-7 all-time record against IU Indianapolis and 7-4 against Northern Kentucky. Notably, they have maintained a winning streak against the Jaguars since joining the Horizon League.

IU Indianapolis, under head coach Pawel Gajdzik since August 2022, has had a challenging season with a 2-10 overall record and remains winless in the league at 0-4. Standouts for the team include Grace Lampman and Calli Sokolowski in singles and Chloe Bailey in doubles.

Northern Kentucky, coached by Brian Nester in his 13th season, enters the weekend with a 5-9 overall record. They are also 1-3 in the conference but have struggled recently with four consecutive losses.

Among the Panthers' players, Nikola Nikolajeva has been in top form, securing critical victories in recent matches. She was named Horizon League Singles Player of the Week on March 5 after remarkable performances.

The Panthers have made historical strides this season, achieving their first victory against Marquette and securing a strong doubles performance from Nadiia Konieva and Nikola Nikolajeva.

Coached by Mark Goldin, now in his second year, the team aims to improve upon last year's 9-12 record and advance in the Horizon League Championships, starting April 25 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.