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URBANA, Ill. – Illinois Women's Tennis is set to open the 2016 dual slate with a home double header slated for Saturday, Jan. 16. Opening the day, UI will host the IUPUI Jaguars in a noon contest. At 5 p.m., the Fighting Illini will host the Eastern Illinois Panthers. Admission is free for all home regular season matches at the Atkins Tennis Center.
This will mark the 13th overall meeting between Illinois and Eastern Illinois. UI holds an 8-4 advantage in the series. In the last meeting with the Panthers, Illinois swept the match by a score of 9-0 back in 1983. IUPUI and the Fighting Illini will face off for the first time in Saturday's dual action.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Last season, IUPUI finished with a 7-13 record. During the summer, the Jags hired former Illini tennis player Marisa Lambropoulos ('12) as their head coach. IUPUI bowed out of last season's Summit League Tournament in the opening round with a 4-3 loss to South Dakota.
Eastern Illinois finished the 2015 dual season with a record of 13-7. The Panthers' season wrapped up with a 4-0 loss to the top-seed Murray State squad in the OVC semifinals.
SUCCESSFUL FALL PLAY
This past fall, the Fighting Illini played a combination of hidden duals and individual tournaments. As a team, UI worked to a 43-32 record in singles play. The Illini went an impressive 14-6 in action hosted at the Atkins Tennis Center. Additionally, the Fighting Illini registered a combined 29 straight-set victories.
TOUGH COMPETITION
Earlier this month, in the ITA's opening poll of the 2016 dual season, the Fighting Illini came in at No. 58. Of the 14 teams in the Big Ten, 10 appeared in the January 5th rankings. Additionally, 13 teams on Illinois' 2016 slate can be found in the most recent poll.
BOONE IN THE RANKINGS
After a fall campaign that saw Boone finish 6-2, the junior made an individual appearance at No. 114 in the ITA Women's National Singles Rankings. The Chicago native was also one of three players to sport a 3-0 record at the Atkins Tennis Center this fall.
FOLLOW THE ILLINI
Live results and video for all of Illinois' home matches can be viewed for free here: http://fightingillini.com/sports/2015/11/4/wtennis_livestatsvideo.aspx. For more coverage of the Orange and Blue visit FIGHTINGILLINI.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
