The UIS women's tennis team welcomes three opponents to the Springfield Racquet & Fitness Club this weekend for a competitive stretch of matches.
Illinois Springfield (0-2)
The Prairie Stars are searching for their first win of the season after a 6-1 loss to Washburn and a 5-2 loss to Michigan Tech. Despite the team's setbacks, Ema Norma Bordean, Niamh Grogan, and Kamila Kalinowska each hold a 1-1 singles record. In doubles, the top pairing of Bordean and Grogan earned a 7-5 victory against Michigan Tech over the weekend.
Southwest Baptist (1-2) – Friday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m.
UIS and Southwest Baptist meet outside of conference play, as SBU competes in the GLVC's West Division. The Bearcats had both of their matches canceled last weekend and last competed on Feb. 9 in a 4-3 loss to rival Drury.
In that match, Maria Clara Zotti and Giselle Garcia secured a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles, but SBU was unable to claim the doubles point. In singles, Paula Ballesteros rallied for a comeback win (0-6, 7-6, 6-3), while Polina Pauvona took a three-set victory at No. 3 singles (6-2, 4-6, 6-4).
Southwest Baptist defeated UIS 4-3 in their 2024 season opener in Springfield, Mo.
Tiffin (3-3) – Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.
Tiffin enters the weekend after a 4-3 victory over Purdue Northwest. The Dragons claimed the doubles point with wins at No. 1 (6-2) and No. 2 (6-0). They also swept the top three singles matches, with Naelle Lepinay (6-0, 7-6), Emily Barrett (6-0, 6-4), and Jemimah Choi (6-1, 6-1) securing straight-set victories.
Barrett and Choi hold 4-2 singles records and are on two-match winning streaks, while Lepinay leads the team at 5-1. The doubles teams of Barrett/Choi and Avram/Lepinay are both 3-2 this season.
The last meeting between UIS and Tiffin was in 2022, when the Dragons earned a 4-3 win.
Hillsdale (3-2) – Sunday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m.
Hillsdale is coming off a 4-3 win over Davenport and a 6-1 loss to Ferris State. Against Ferris State, the Chargers narrowly dropped the doubles point after a 7-5 loss at No. 3 doubles, despite winning 7-5 at No. 1. The team's lone singles victory came from Ane Dannhauser, who won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.
Hillsdale won the only previous meeting with UIS, 5-2, in 2019.