The UNI women’s tennis team traveled to Omaha, Neb. this weekend to face both Creighton University and the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) in a pair of season openers for the Panthers. The Panthers were looking to rebound after a tough 2021 regular season with a record of 2-13. The UNI team added some new blood this season with the addition of two freshmen. They fell to Creighton 7-0 and lost to UNO 6-1.

The Panthers faced the Creighton Bluejays in the first matchup, with the Bluejays sweeping the Panthers 7-0 in the first set of matches of the day. No. 6 Olivia Fain of UNI was defeated by Allison Wilcox of Creighton in a hard-fought match, winning the first set 6-3 but falling in the latter sets. UNI’s Emma Carr versus Creighton’s Valerie Negin ended in a forfeit after a shoulder injury suffered by Carr.

The team looked to bounce back the very next day against the Mavericks of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Although the team lost 6-1, UNI’s Thaissa Moreira was victorious at the No. 3 spot in her match against Addison Miller. Moreira swept the first set but was defeated in the second. Moreira won the third set after a 10-5 super tiebreak which ultimately won her the match. UNI’s No. 1, Lorena Cardoso won her opening set against UNO’s Rachel Osborn fell in her chance at super tie-break at 10-5. 

Although the Panthers were unsuccessful in this weekend’s road trip, they look to bounce back in yet another upcoming road trip in Minneapolis, Minn. against the University of Minnesota and North Dakota this upcoming weekend.