CHICAGO – The UIC women's tennis team (12-6, 6-1 HL) will return home to finish out the regular season with two pivotal matches, taking on Youngstown State (13-9, 7-0 HL) on Saturday, April 21 at 11:30 a.m. CT and Cleveland State (10-11, 6-1 HL) on Sunday, April 22 at 10 a.m. CT.

Saturday's match against the Penguins will be played at H-F Racquet & Fitness Club in Homewood, Ill., while Sunday's match will be played on the Flames Outdoor Tennis Courts weather pending. Sunday will also serve as senior day, as seniors Melika Le Blanc, Miranda Rodriguez Diaz de Leon and Bianca Zuzu will be honored prior to first serve.

SHAPING UP THE HORIZON LEAGUE
UIC is faced with the opportunity to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Horizon League tournament this weekend, should they win both matches. Youngstown State currently has the top spot with an undefeated record in conference play, while Cleveland State is tied with the Flames in second with an identical 6-1 Horizon League record.

LAST TIME OUT
The Flames have won their last five matches, and have shutout their opponents in two of those five contests. Last Friday UIC swept Green Bay (April 13) 7-0 and went on to defeat Milwaukee the next day (April 14) 6-1. Against the Phoenix, the Flames allowed just six points through positions 1-5 combined, winning all five in straight sets. Versus the Panthers, UIC took three matches in straight sets and two of three doubles matches to take the doubles point.

SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE
The Penguins are on an eight-match win streak, dating back to a 4-3 win against Akron on March 15. Youngstown State has defeated every Horizon League opponent faced this season by a score of 5-2 or better, including 7-0 shutout victories against Green Bay and Cleveland State. Sophomore Imaan Hassim is undefeated against Horizon League opponents, and she joins Noelly Longi Nsimba to lead the Penguins in doubles competition with a 5-1 mark in conference play.

SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE
The Vikings have won their last four after taking down Wright State 4-3 on Saturday and Northern Kentucky on Sunday (April 15) by a score of 6-1. Isabella Spindler highlights for Cleveland State from the No. 1 position, owning a 6-1 record against conference opponents and a 12-8 record overall. Spindler combines with Aleksandra Golawska in No. 1 doubles, and together they pace the Vikings with a 4-1 mark in Horizon League play.

Colic & Sanders Tabbed as Doubles Team of the Week
Lejla Colic and Georgie Sanders were named the Horizon League doubles team of the week on March 13 for the period of March 6-12. The duo earned its first Horizon League accolade as a pair, and the first weekly award for the Flames this season. Colic and Sanders secured the doubles point for UIC against Illinois State on March 11 with a 6-4 win from the No. 1 spot. The Flames went on to sweep the Redbirds, 7-0.

FLAMES FALL FINISH
The Flames competed in three fall tournaments prior to the ITA Regionals: the Cincinnati Invitational, the Wildcat Invite and their own UIC Invitational. The Flames ended fall tournament play with a combined 32-31 record in singles play and 18-17 in doubles, and were highlighted by newcomer Amelia Guevremont's 8-2 showing. Veterans Rachel Le Comber and Georgie Sanders both wrapped up the fall season with a 5-5 record in singles play. On the doubles side, UIC was led by the duo of Viktoria Seifert and Stefana Vasic (4-2) as well as Georgie Sanders and Lejla Colic (5-5).

FLAMES PICKED FIRST IN HL PRESEASON POLL
UIC was picked to finish first in the Horizon League Preseason Poll, receiving five of a total possible nine first-place votes. The Flames finished with a total of 86 points, just ahead of Youngstown State in second with four first-place votes and 84 total points. Cleveland State (63) finished third, Wright State (57), fourth, while Northern Kentucky (53), Detroit Mercy (47), Oakland (46), Milwaukee (27), IUPUI (23), and Green Bay (9) finished fifth through tenth, respectively.

UIC ADDS THREE
This year's roster boasts nine players consisting of three newcomers and six returners. Amelia Guevremont is the only true freshman in the bunch, having arrived in Chicago by way of Verdun, Quebec. Sophomore Lejla Colic joins UIC after finishing her freshman season at Washington State, where she was 13-9 in singles play and 12-8 in doubles. Viktoria Seifert joins the Flames after two years at Seminole State, where she was the Trojans' number one player in both singles and doubles in her sophomore year. Returning to the roster are veterans Rachel Le Comber, Melika LeBlanc, Miranda Rodriguez Diaz de Leon, Georgie Sanders, Stefana Vasic and Bianca Zuzu.