April 5, 2011

CHICAGO- The UIC men's tennis welcomes Olivet Nazarene (Wednesday) at noon and Horizon League foe Valparaiso (Friday) at 3 p.m. for the Flames last home stand of the season, at the Flames Tennis Courts.

UIC (4-11, 2-2 Horizon League) are coming into this last home stand, defeating Youngstown State 4-3, but falling to the defending champions Cleveland State, 6-1, last weekend.

Senior Luiz Gonzaga leads the team with six singles victory going into his last home stand, and doubles duo of senior Dave Robare and freshman Alexander Raa have a team best 7-4 record.

"It is great to be home on the Flames Tennis Courts this week," said head coach Hans Neufeld. "We look forward to Olivet and Valpo for our senior's last home matches."

Olivet Nazarene comes in at a perfect 11-0 against NAIA opponents. On Saturday, April 2, Olivet defeated #RV Huntington University at home, 8-1. Julian Kurz comes in nationally ranked as the No. 43 singles player for Olivet and Kurz partners up with Landon Williams as the No. 7 nationally ranked doubles tandem.

The Valparaiso Crusaders come into this weekend with an overall record of 5-10, and still looking for their first win against a Horizon League opponent. Last weekend, Valparaiso traveled to face a pair of Horizon League foes from Ohio, falling to the defending champions Cleveland State (April 2), 7-0, and capping off the weekend by dropping the match to Youngstown State, 4-3.

UIC will be looking for the same result as last year, as the Flames defeated Valparaiso in Valparaiso, Ind., 5-2.

The match on Friday, April 8 versus Valparaiso will be Senior Day for four Flames players. Luiz Gonzaga, Alex Marginean, Nicolas Ospina, and Dave Robare will be honored for their contributions on and off the courts in a UIC tennis uniform before the match.