CHICAGO (Jan. 26, 2024) - An exciting 21-match spring schedule is in store for the UIC women's tennis program, who announced its slate Friday. The 2024 schedule features nine home competitions as the Flames embark on their second year as members of the Missouri Valley Conference. The 2024 season is UIC's first under Elizabeth Lumpkin Robinson, who was named the 10th head coach in program history in November.
 
"We can't wait to get back to the competition court and represent UIC and the Flames family," said Lumpkin Robinson. "Our team has been working hard and is excited to start our journey together this season and continue to play with the best in the Missouri Valley Conference. We look forward to growing as teammates and competitors through a challenging 2024 schedule and are ready to represent the Windy City as Chicago's College Team."
 
UIC's seven-member roster is comprised entirely of international student-athletes for the fourth consecutive year and it includes four returners from the Flames' inaugural season in the MVC and three transfers. This year's squad is led by senior Agnes Gustafsson (Paris, France/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium), who was a two-time All-Horizon League First Team selection and 2022 Horizon League Player of the Year. Last year, she was named to the 2023 MVC All-Select Team after going 5-2 in conference play in No. 1 singles. Also returning is sophomore Paula Rodriguez Gregoris (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands/International School of Berne), who earned All-MVC honors last season at No. 6 singles after posting a 5-1 conference record.
 
Key matches for UIC's 2024 spring season are highlighted below, with the full schedule linked here. The Flames face two programs that reached the 2023 NCAA Tournament. 

• Jan. 30 at Butler (regular season opener)
• Feb. 9 vs. Milwaukee (home opener, 50^th all-time meeting)
• Feb. 28 at Notre Dame (advanced to second round of 2023 NCAA Tournament)
• March 24 vs. Drake (2023 MVC champion, first MVC match)
• April 21 vs. Valparaiso (regular season home finale)
• April 26-28 at Missouri Valley Conference Championships (Nashville, Tenn.) 

UIC's home matches in February and March will take place at XS Tennis Village (5336 S. State St. in Chicago). The Flames' April matches will be played at either XS Tennis Village or at the Flames Outdoor Tennis Courts, with those sites to be determined at a later date.
 
For more information on the UIC women's tennis program, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UICWTEN and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_wten and @uicflames).