CHICAGO – The UIC women's tennis team (10-5, 1-1 HL) will be faced with just one opponent this weekend as it is scheduled to head over to Valparaiso, Ind., Saturday for a 2 p.m. CT matchup with the Crusaders (1-11, 0-2 HL) at the Valpo Tennis Complex.
 
The Flames got their Horizon League campaign underway last weekend (March 24-25) with a pair of matches in Ohio as they took down reigning conference champion Youngstown State, 4-3, before coming up short against Cleveland State, 5-2. Rachel Le Comber and Melika LeBlanc teamed up at No. 1 doubles and swept to garner the distinction of Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week. Le Comber additionally went undefeated in as she shut down both of her opponents in straight sets.
 
Le Comber is the first Flame to reach a double-digit win total in singles as she holds a 10-5 record after having competed at the No. 4-6 positions. Collectively, the team owns 41 wins with Rodriguez Diaz de Leon (8) and Bianca Zuzu (7) adding the next highest totals.
 
UIC has won the doubles point in its last five matches as it owns a winning record of 21-15 this season. LeBlanc and Le Comber boast a dominating mark of 7-3 all at No. 1 while the team of Georgie Sanders and Stefana Vasic has tabbed the next best mark of 5-3 at No. 3.
 
Valparaiso hosts its first conference match of the season after falling to Youngstown State and Cleveland State in a pair of 7-0 decisions last weekend. The Crusaders have claimed just six wins in singles this seasons with a team-best three from Randi Wind. The doubles field has been controlled by Kathleen Hebble and Paige Heuer with six of the team's nine victories while competing at No. 1.
 
In the all-times series, the Flames hold a commanding lead of 16-3 as they have won the last 13 meetings, including the last nine in 7-0 finals.