Despite putting up a strong fight, Illinois women’s tennis is coming off a weekend featuring a 6-1 loss to Georgia Tech and a 4-3 loss to Notre Dame, both of whom were just outside the most recent ITA Top-25 rankings. Now looking to move on from one of its toughest weekends of the year in terms of competition, Illinois is faced with a new challenge. In each of the Illini’s doubleheader weekends thus far, all of the matches have been played in one location whereas they are now asked to play at Missouri on Friday and return home for Illinois State on Sunday.

All seven healthy Illini received some playing time last weekend, with Violeta Martinez picking up her first career singles win against Georgia Tech. Illinois’ marquee No. 19 duo in junior Kate Duong and sophomore Megan Heuser won both of their doubles matches, despite Illinois not winning the doubles point in either match.

Beginning with their trip to St. Louis, the Illini will be facing a Missouri squad that has claimed three wins without losing a point (7-0, 4-0 and 7-0) but has also seen the other side of this in their season opener against Oklahoma (0-7). The two programs face off each season as a part of Braggin’ Rights, with last season’s match being entirely Illinois (4-0). This year’s match is earlier in the season than it typically is and with programs still getting into the groove of things, it is unclear whether the Illini will face the dominant or the timid side of Missouri. Either way, Illinois’ preparation against top opponents to open the spring season will prove valuable during this match.

After a day of rest, Illinois will travel back to Champaign and hit the courts again for their second match of the weekend. Similarly to Missouri, Illinois State is an opponent the Illini see often, with last year’s match being dominated by Illinois (7-0). This season though, the Redbirds are off to a hot 3-0 start, making this match no cakewalk for Illinois.

This weekend will be filled with opportunities for the Illini, whose record currently sits at 2-3 and is yet to claim a home victory. Winning both matches will put Illinois back over 0.500, while a win over Illinois State would be their first home win of the season, important milestones for a program that holds itself as highly as Illinois does.

Illinois women’s tennis will serve at 3 p.m. this Friday against Missouri, before returning home for a noon match against Illinois State on Sunday.

@blountco21

[email protected]