The first-place UIC Flames enter the final weekend of the regular season with two important matches coming up against Youngstown State and Cleveland State. Despite their unblemished 4-0 record in Horizon League play, the Flames can still finish anywhere from first to fourth in the final standings depending on this weekend's results.
The Penguins and Vikings, along with IUPUI, are all clustered with the Flames in the four-team group of squads with 0 or 1 conference loss. IUPUI will also play both YSU and CSU over the weekend. Whoever emerge as the top two teams will earn byes in the first round of the Horizon League tournament. The Flames have not been in that position since 2010.
Flames to Watch
- Pelle Strandberg is 4-0 in conference singles matches and has won five of his last six. He has not lost a set in Horizon League play.
- Johan Hedstrom, Anthony Nguyen, and Kasper Parlklo are all 3-1 in singles within league play.
- Hedstrom and Parlklo are 3-0 in Horizon League doubles action. They have won six straight overall. Only one of their last four opponents has won more than two games.
- Marcelo Dib is 3-0 on the doubles courts. He has played with two different partners since returning from injury to give the team a lift at the onset of the conference schedule.
Last Time Out
- UIC snapped an 11-match losing streak to Green Bay with a 6-1 win over the Phoenix last Saturday.
- After an easy doubles win, the Flames got two quick singles wins by 1-and-2 scores.
- Nguyen clinched the match, with Kailash Panchapakesan and Niko Wasilewicz closing things out with two more wins.
Scouting the Opposition
- Youngstown State got wins over Northern Kentucky and Wright State last weekend to remain in contention for a regular season title.
- Danylo Veremeichuk is the conference's Singles Player of the Week after winning twice at #1.
- Joao Garretto is 4-0 in conference singles. The Penguins' three doubles teams are all unbeaten in Horizon League play.
- Cleveland State has cruised to a 4-0 conference record to tie UIC atop the standings.
- Clark Bilinovich and William Malm earned CSU's third Doubles Team of the Week award.
- The preseason favorites to win the league title feature three undefeated Horizon League singles players, including Nico Mostardi at #1.
