Normal, Ill. – UIC is set to open its fall season as the Flames head to Normal, Illinois, for their fourth consecutive appearance at the Redbird Invitational, hosted by Illinois State. The competition will feature Missouri Valley Conference rivals and familiar faces. The event marks the first of three events this fall for the Flames.
INFORMATION
Where: Gregory Street Tennis Courts, Normal, Illinois
When: Friday, Oct. 2 - Sunday, Oct. 4
Layout: Round 1 on Friday, Round 2 on Saturday, and final matches on Sunday.
Live Scoring: Illinois State Website
SCHOOLS COMPETING
-
Illinois State Redbirds
-
Belmont
-
Bradley
-
Drake
-
Murray State
-
Northern Iowa
-
UIC
-
Valparaiso
HISTORY AT THE REDBIRD INVITATIONAL
This will mark the fourth consecutive year the Flames have competed in the Redbird Invitational, establishing the event as a staple of UIC's fall schedule. The tournament has served as the starting point for the Flames' fall season, providing an early opportunity to set the tone for the year, build momentum, and test the team against a competitive field in both singles and doubles play.
PREVIEW
The Flames welcome back five returners, including junior standouts Edit Cosmo, Marta Halbersztadt, and Dongke Liu, along with one newcomer for the 2026-27 campaign, Kristina Tai. Cosmo returns after earning MVC Freshman of the Year honors in 2024-25 and posting a 14-4 singles record last season, while Halbersztadt brings championship experience after clinching UIC's first MVC team title with a win at No. 4 singles in the 2025 conference final. Liu enters her junior season after earning two MVC Singles Player of the Week honors and securing UIC's first win over a Big Ten opponent since 2010 last season.
QUOTE FROM COACH RYAN JUMP
"We are excited to compete this weekend! We have spent a good part of the last month establishing our culture and creating an identity in doubles. This weekend will be a great opportunity for the entire team to get 6 matches in and test their match legs before regionals next week!"
FOLLOW THE FLAMES
For more information on the UIC women's tennis program, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media on X (@UIC_WTEN and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_wten and @uicflames).
#ChicagosCollegeTeam
