The Flames will return to action this weekend with two matches. They will take on Marquette in Milwaukee Saturday afternoon, and then after a quick turnaround will face Chicago State early Sunday morning.
Both teams have been consistent rivals for UIC. A nearly annual opponent, Marquette has won the last 11 matches in the series. The Flames last defeated Marquette in 2006. UIC has a four match winning streak against its city rivals, dating back to 2013.
Action will begin at 1:00 on Saturday at Marquette's Helfaer Tennis Center. Live scoring will be available. First serve against Chicago State will be at 9:00 Sunday morning at H-F Racquet Club in suburban Homewood.
Flames to Watch
- Johan Hedstrom and Niko Wasilewicz each played a match at #1 singles in the Flames' season-opening doubleheader at Western Michigan two weeks ago. Each of them picked up a win in last fall's ITA Regionals.
- Wasilewicz teamed with William Wale in the doubles portion of both matches. They played once at #1 and once at #2, with Johan Hedstrom and Pelle Strandberg getting a chance at #1 as well.
- Strandberg, a freshman, was in every one of his singles sets against the Broncos, going to three tiebreakers and giving UIC its best chance to score a team point.
Last Time Out
- Western Michigan, the defending MAC champions, swept the doubleheader by identical 7-0 scores.
- All six singles players appeared in different spots in the lineup in the two matches. The Flames mixed and matched five doubles teams across the twinbill.
- The Flames faced five tiebreakers in singles competition, but were not able to win any of them.
Scouting Marquette
- Marquette returns eight players from last season's Big East championship squad.
- Brett Myers and Luis Heredia Gomez each racked up 10 wins in singles tournament play last fall.
- Gomez and Alvaro Verdu were the Eagles' #1 doubles team in their season opening loss to Iowa.
- Wasilewicz defeated Francisco St. Andres in the ITA Regionals. Kailash Panchapakesan fell to Alexander Warstler in the River Forest Collegiate Invitational.
Scouting Chicago State
- Chicago State is 0-2 after falling to Michigan State and Xavier in their opening weekend. The Cougars will face Wright State Friday.
- CSU won the doubles point against the Spartans and the Musketeers. Jakov Suler and Felix-Antoin Savard at #1, and Nicholas Liddy and George Botha at #2, each won two sets.
- Botha and Gonzalo Martinez each won their singles match against Xavier.
