Jan. 27, 2000

This weekend marks the beginning of life on the road for the University of Illinois women's tennis team.

The Illini head south to Tampa, Fla., for a Jan. 29 match against South Florida and then travel to Gainesville, Fla., to battle No. 2 Florida Jan. 30. The two Florida matches start a tour of 12 events away from the Atkins Tennis Center. Playing the entire month of February on the road, the Illini have slated 10 dual matches and two team tournaments before returning to home action March 25 against Purdue.

"We designed the schedule this way because it a great opportunity to toughen up the team," Head Coach Sujay Lama said. "We want to be ready and focused for anything, especially when we begin Big Ten play."

In the nearly two-month stretch from home, the Illini will face four of the nation's top 10 teams, starting with the second-ranked Lady Gators. UI takes on No. 4 Duke March 5, No. 10 USC March 15 and No. 6 UCLA March 17. Sunday's match at Florida will be a reunion for Lama, who served as the top assistant for Andy Brandi's Lady Gators. From 1995-98, Lama helped Florida to two NCAA titles and three SEC crowns.

"It gives us every opportunity to compete with the best," Lama said. "Florida is always a power and South Florida is a tough team with a workmanlike attitude, and we just have to have that mentality of there are no free points and good things will happen."

Illinois began the spring season last week at home with a split, defeating Illinois-Chicago 7-2 before falling to DePaul 6-3. Freshmen Eldina Fazlic and Michelle Webb and senior Megan Wise opened 2000 with 2-0 records in singles.