The Flames will face Northwestern for the second time this season, traveling to Evanston for a match Sunday evening at 6 pm. The two matches against the Wildcats, both on the road, sandwiched UIC's season-long three match homestand. The match will be the eighth of nine straight within Chicago city limits or the near suburbs.
Northwestern bested the Flames 4-0 in the first meeting on February 17. That was the nightcap of a split doubleheader which saw UIC defeat Eastern Illinois that afternoon. With additional experience on their side, the Flames will seek to halt a four-match losing streak that began that evening against Northwestern.
Flames to Watch
- Kailash Panchapakesan, with three singles wins in the #6 flight and four overall, and Anthony Nguyen, who has three wins at #5 singles, have anchored the bottom of the team's lineup.
- Kasper Parlklo has contributed the team's only win at #3, and one of its two at #2. The #1 singles spot is the only one in which the team does not have a win this year.
- Parlklo and Johan Hedstrom have combined to win four doubles matches, all in the #2 slot.
- William Wale and Niko Wasilewicz have been the Flames' #1 doubles team virtually the entire season, and have a pair of wins.
Last Time Out
- It was a heartbreaker at XS Tennis last Saturday, as Illinois State won the last two singles matches to snatch a 4-3 win.
- With wins in the first two doubles sets to wrap up, UIC clinched the doubles point.
- Wasilewicz and Panchapakesan each won their singles match to put UIC just one more win away from taking the team victory.
Scouting Northwestern
- Northwestern earned a come from behind, 4-3 win over Louisville last weekend.
- Trailing 3-2, the Wildcats got singles wins from Simon Bratholm and Antonioni Fasano to complete their comeback.
- Bratholm won his singles match against UIC in the first meeting. Fasano was part of a victorious doubles team.
- The Wildcats played at Illinois Friday, and will host Texas Tech Saturday afternoon prior to entertaining the Flames.
