UIC will open Horizon League play with two matches on the road this weekend.  The Flames will visit Northern Kentucky on Saturday, and Wright State on Sunday, eager to seize the opportunity to get off to an important fast start in conference play.

The Flames were picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll of conference head coaches, one spot higher than they finished last season.  The team has been battle-tested with non-conference matches against national and regional powers.  Capitalizing on that experience will be crucial, as the league slate begins with the three teams, including IUPUI next weekend, who were ranked below UIC in the poll.  In fact, by a quirk of the schedule, the Flames will play all their Horizon League opponents in reverse order of the preseason rankings.

First serve at NKU will be about 6:30 Central, following the conclusion of the tilt between the Flames and Norse women.  Live scoring will be available.  The Flames and Raiders will get started at noon Sunday.

Flames to Watch

• Since exchanging spots in the singles lineup recently, Johan Hedstrom and Niko Wasilewicz have each had success.  Hedstrom was elevated to the #1 slot, where he earned a win over Dayton in the last match.  Wasilewicz, bumped to #2, also got a victory after the move.
• Anthony Nguyen, with three wins, and Kailash Panchapakesan, with four, have anchored the bottom of the Flames' singles lineup.  Nguyen has been steady in the #5 flight, while Panchapakesan has moved steadily up from #6 to #4 due to his success.
• Hedstrom and Kasper Parlklo have racked up five wins at #2 doubles.  Marcelo Dib returned from an injury to compete in doubles for the first time this season in the last match.

Last Time Out

• The Flames dropped a tense decision to Dayton, 4-3, in a match that wasn't decided until the last singles affair was over.
• UIC won the doubles point with a pair of 6-1 decisions.
• Hedstrom and Pelle Strandberg each won their singles match.

Scouting the Opposition

• Northern Kentucky enters play on a three-match winning streak.  They are 3-1 at home, although this will be their first match at the Lindner Tennis Center facility.
• Nathan Schwartz is 5-4 at #2 singles, representing the most victories by a Norse in one flight.
• Blaine Carr has the overall team lead with seven singles wins.
• Jorge Rodriguez and Aleksander Sadal sport a 6-4 record at #1 doubles
• Wright State pieced together a season-best four match winning streak in late February and early March, but has lost seven in a row since.
• The Raiders fell to Northern Kentucky, 5-2, in a head to head conference opener last weekend.
• Param Pun was a straight-sets winner at #1 singles for WSU.
• Donovan Cellupica-Towers also picked up a singles win.

Horizon League Preseason Poll

1. Cleveland State (7)
2. Youngstown State
3. Green Bay
4. UIC
5. IUPUI
6. Wright State
7. Northern Kentucky