After dropping its first two conference matches on the road, UIC will get its first chance to face Horizon League foes on its home courts this weekend.  Youngstown State and Cleveland State will visit on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

The Flames have not played a home match since mid-February.  While they did stay local for a road match against Chicago State, it has still been a full calendar month since the team played in their own city.

It will be the second set of back-to-back matches in the last three weekends.  The Flames opened conference play by dropping a close, 4-3 decision at Northern Kentucky a day before shutting out Elmhurst, 7-0.  With six conference matches remaining, the Flames can put their winless start behind them and get right back in the thick of the standings.

The Penguins enter the weekend with a 7-8 overall record, but they have won their two Horizon League matches to date.  Victories over Cleveland State and Northern Kentucky were highlighted by singles wins from Laurentiu Mandocescu, Harry Fouzas, Clement Mainguy, and David Moreno in both matchups.  Mainguy and Moreno also won on the doubles courts against both foes, and are 4-0 in doubles play this season.

Cleveland State bounced back from their loss to YSU with a 6-1 win over the Norse.  Like the Flames, CSU has been consistent in the top three singles flights while juggling the lineup in spots four through six.  The Vikings are a combined 16-31 in those flights, making the matchups on those courts crucial to each team's chances of victory.

Due to forecasted cold temperatures, the weekend's matches will both be played at HF Racquet Club in Homewood.  The YSU match Saturday will start at 3 p.m., and Sunday's showdown against the Vikings will begin at 10 a.m.