UIC will gear up for one match this weekend, against North Dakota Friday afternoon.

After playing two matches in each of the season's first two weeks, the Flames are in the first of three straight weeks with only one competition.  First serve against the Fighting Hawks will be at noon at XS Tennis.

The teams faced off last season, with North Dakota claiming a 5-2 win.  However, with the decisive third doubles set, and the #1 singles match, each going to a tiebreaker, the Flames were just a couple of points away from getting the team win.

UIC dropped a pair of decisions to Western Michigan and Creighton last week.  Both matches were highlighted by spirited play down the lineup, including multiple matches going to a third set tiebreaker.

Flames to Watch

• Pelle Strandberg has the team's only singles win to date.
• Strandberg and Casey Schrader are the only Flames to play every singles match in the same flight - #1 for Strandberg and #2 for Schrader.
• Since Anthony Nguyen's return to the lineup last weekend, he has settled in at #2, with Luiz Dos Santos, Gustavo Schwebel, and Artem Iermolov following in spots three through six.

Scouting the Hawks

• North Dakota enters play with a 3-2 record.
• They lost twice against Northern Illinois, and defeated Horizon League opponent Youngstown State, last week.
• Edmond Aynedjian is the Summit League Player of the Week, with two singles wins and a doubles victory last week.

Change in Scenery

• Though XS Tennis is UIC's primary indoor practice facility, Friday's match will be the first time they have played there competitively this season.
• Previous matches took place in Hinsdale and Aurora.
• Next week's home match against Chicago State is scheduled for Park Forest.
• With late-season matches currently scheduled for Flames Outdoor Tennis Courts, UIC could play home matches in five different venues this season.