URBANA, Ill. –This weekend will kick off a series of fall tournaments for the Fighting Illini women's tennis team as the unit will travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the Puerto Rico Invitational. The University of Georgia-hosted event opens on Friday, Sept. 25, concluding three days later on Sunday. Illinois is set to play against the University of Georgia, Mercer University and the University of Miami.
Illinois returns seven players from last season's group that put together a 14-10 spring campaign and welcomes a trio of freshmen to the squad. Emily Barretta is the lone senior on the UI roster while there are four juniors to fill out the upperclassmen spots. Juniors include Madie Baillon, Jerricka Boone, Alexis Casati and Louise Kwong, who all saw plenty of action as sophomores. In their second years with the Fighting Illini, Jade Hilton and Grace Tapak return to action. New to the Orange and Blue lineup this season are Daniela Pedraza Novak, Jaclyn Switkes and Ines Vias.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Last year, Georgia finished with an overall record of 24-7 in the dual season, finishing as the fourth-ranked team in the nation. The Puerto Rico Invitational is also UGA's first event of the fall.
Miami turned in an 18-7 campaign last spring to rank 12th nationally. The Hurricanes have already participated in a series of invites so far this fall, with their singles posting an overall record of 15-3 and their doubles with an overall record of 7-4
Last season, Mercer went 4-16 last spring. Mercer opened play this fall in the UCF Quad Tournament.
COMPETITION
Illinois will open action in Sun Juan Friday morning against UGA in a hidden-dual formatted contest. On Saturday, the Fighting Illini will take the courts against Mercer. The final day of action will put the Orange and Blue up against Miami.
UP NEXT
Next weekend, the Fighting Illini unit will split up and head to either the Purdue Invitational or the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships on the West Coast.
