Looking back over the course of the Fighting Illini women’s tennis spring season, two things should come to mind – weekend matches and nationally-ranked opponents.

Throughout the season, only four matches have not taken place on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

The team’s schedule boasts 21 different opponents, and 12 of those teams have been or currently are nationally-ranked.

But as all good things must come to an end, the Illini, led by the lone senior Emily Wang, are facing the end of their season and are hoping to squeak in a few wins before the Big Ten Championships begin.

“This weekend will be particularly special for us because Sunday’s Big Ten conference match against Ohio State will be the last home match of senior captain Emily Wang’s career,” head coach Michelle Dasso said in a press release. “I know the girls will play with a little extra motivation hoping to send Emily off on a high note.”

Before Wang can be sent off in style, however, the Illini will have some tough competition to face.

The Hoosiers of Indiana come to town on Saturday, April 14, with hopes of at least keeping, but possibly improving their No. 33 national ranking.

Indiana recently emulated the Illini record from earlier this season, coming off of a pair of losses to No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 11 Northwestern.

Northwestern, the leader of the Big Ten, blanked Illinois in its meeting just one week prior to the Hoosiers’ match.

Owning a 31-5 lead over the Illini in annual meetings since 1977, the Hoosiers will be seeking revenge for their recent losses.

Indiana, 15-5 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten, hopes this match mirrors the one from a year ago when the Hoosiers defeated the Illini 6-1 in Bloomington, Ind.

Illinois will have little rest between the Indiana and the Ohio State dual as the Buckeyes traveling to Urbana for the final home contest of the year on Sunday.

Boasting a 15-7 season record and going 3-2 in the Big Ten, Ohio State will face the Purdue Boilermakers Saturday afternoon in West Lafayette, Ind., before coming to Illinois.

Ohio State also recently fell to Notre Dame 7-0, but sought quick redemption from Wright State on April 7 and 8 in back-to-back non-conference battles.

In 2006, the Buckeyes downed the Illini 5-2 to improve the overall record between the two conference rivals to 25-12.

With the season coming to a halt, the team is continuing to learn from its mistakes.

Still focused on securing the doubles point and playing with intensity, Illinois hopes to use these matches to put them in a strong position heading into the final leg of the season.

As usual, the women will have the following week away from matches, devoting it to practice before facing another set of weekend opponents April 21-22.

Wang will play her last doubles match with freshman partner Megan Fudge and will play in the No. 6 singles spot for both matches.

Both Big Ten battles will be held at Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana and will begin at 11 a.m.