Cary Milanes (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto)'s dramatic three-set win at No. 3 singles lifted the Valparaiso women's tennis team to a 4-3 victory over visiting Nebraska-Omaha Friday afternoon at the Courts of NWI.

The Mavericks got out to a 1-0 lead by claiming the doubles point, best 2-out-of-3.

Milanes and senior Megan Barthels (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) collected a 7-6 (7-2) nailbiter at No. 2 doubles. However, Nebraska-Omaha seized the pairings at No. 1 and 3. 

Kaitlyn Hamel (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain) and Kathleen Hebble (Sellersburg, Ind./Silver Creek) fell 6-2 atop doubles, while UNO's Hylan Miller/Allison Johnson snuck past Paige Heuer (Munster, Ind./Munster) and Michele Fredlake (South Bend, Ind./Saint Joseph's), 7-5, at No. 3.

Michelle Lo opened singles play by recording a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 1 to give the Mavericks a 2-0 advantage in the match.

Heuer got Valpo on the scoreboard by virtue of her 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 4 over Rebecca Stafford. Hebble tied it at 2-2 following her straight set triumph over Molly Matricardi at No. 2, 6-2, 6-2. Fredlake gave the Crusaders a 3-2 lead moments later with a 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 6. 

The Mavericks were down, but not out. Kenzie Hill kept Nebraska-Omaha alive thanks to a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Barthels at No. 5.

With the match riding on the outcome at No. 3, Milanes went the distance in a courageous 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 match-clinching victory.

Valparaiso moved to 1-3 on the young season, while Nebraska-Omaha fell to 2-4. 

The Crusaders will ride the momentum into Saturday's dual versus IUPUI at the Courts of NWI. First serve is slated for 2 pm.