Following one of the most successful fall slates in recent memory, UIC will visit Kalamazoo, Mich. this weekend for two matches that will kick off the 2020 schedule.
UIC is ranked second in the Horizon League preseason poll. They return seven players from the squad that advanced to last season's conference championship. Before conference play begins in March, the Flames will face a challenging non-conference slate, which begins with matches against Butler Saturday and Western Michigan Sunday.
2020 Horizon League Men's Tennis Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Cleveland State – 48 (6)
2. UIC – 38
3. Youngstown State – 35
4. IUPUI – 30 (1)
5. Northern Kentucky – 19
6. Green Bay – 16
7. Wright State – 10 |
With five seniors and a graduate student who have combined to play over 230 matches in their careers to date, UIC is long on experience. The Flames showed they can compete with major programs at the WMU Vredevelt Invite in October.
Johan Hedstrom made the All-Tournament Team. He,
Kasper Parlklo, and
Pelle Strandberg all racked up wins over players from Michigan State, Notre Dame, and the Broncos.
All eight Flames qualified for ITA Regionals. It was the first time that UIC had the entire team qualify for the tournament. Parlklo and Hedstrom advanced to the main singles draw. They also teamed up to get a doubles win over a Marquette squad. If individual and team wins keep coming in dual matches, they will be well-earned.
Butler was a 20-win program last year. Western Michigan won the MAC championship and played in the NCAA tournament. Northwestern, who UIC will play twice, sent a doubles team to the NCAA Doubles Championships. Marquette advanced to the Big East championship match. Add the usual local rivals, and the Flames will have to rise to the challenge in order to improve on last season's non-conference record.
The good news is that very little travel will be required for over a month. A short drive across town to play DePaul will be followed by home matches against Eastern Illinois and Northern Illinois at XS Tennis, and a contest with North Dakota in Homewood. As February turns into March, the two Northwestern matches will sandwich the Marquette match – all on the road – and the Flames will return to Milwaukee to play Cardinal Stritch before Horizon League play begins.
Four of UIC's six conference matches will be at home, including the opening weekend against Northern Kentucky and Wright State, and the season's final weekend when Youngstown State and Cleveland State come to town. The Vikings defeated UIC for the Horizon League championship last year, and their visit to Chicago on Senior Day may play a big role in determining seeding for this year's tournament.
The season opener against Butler will begin at 2:30 pm Central. UIC will face Western Michigan at 1:30 on Sunday.
Scouting the Opposition
- When the Flames face Butler, it will be the first dual match of 2020 for each squad.
- UIC had Butler's number when the teams played every year as Horizon League foes. The Flames won seven straight matches between 2008 and 2011.
- The teams played each other last year for the first time since 2012. Butler took a 4-2 win in Indianapolis.
- Western Michigan was voted #1 in the MAC preseason poll.
- Kasper Parlklo picked up a singles win over WMU at the Vredevelt Invite.
- The Broncos went 18-9 last year, including a doubleheader sweep of UIC to begin the season.
