Tennis to Face Western Michigan and Bowling Green

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» 2009 SEASON KICKS OFF: The Eastern Michigan University women's tennis team is in its 32nd season. The first season of women's varsity intercollegiate tennis at EMU was 1976-77 under the direction of Lucy Parker. The Eagles went 8-7 that season and finished fifth at the Michigan AIAW Championship.

» WHAT'S ON TAP: The Eastern Michigan University women's tennis team will hit the road for two Mid-American Conference matches Friday and Saturday, March 27-28. First up for the Eagles will be instate rival Western Michigan Friday at 1 p.m., as the Eagles will look to end their four-match losing skid against a very competitive Bronco lineup. WMU is currently riding a 35 regular-season match streak. Saturday, they will travel to Bowling Green, Ohio for a 1 p.m. battle of the birds match up between EMU and the Bowling Green State University Falcons.

» SCOUTING THE BRONCOS: The Eagles will look to corral the Broncos, who are the defending Mid-American Conference Champions, led by 2008 MAC Player of the Year Kerstin Pahl. The Broncos enter the match with ranked 72nd in the most recent ITA poll and have an overall record of 15-4 and a 1-0 MAC mark, with their MAC win coming against Bowling Green, March 21.

» THE SERIES: The Eagles and Broncos have met dozens of times over the course of 32 years and Western Michigan holds the 29-8 series lead over EMU. The last EMU win over WMU came during the 2002-03 season in which Eastern claimed a 4-2 win in the conference tournament to advance to the finals, in wchich they eventually lost to Marshall.

» SCOUTING THE FALCONS: The Falcons enter Saturday's contest with an overall record of 7-4 and a MAC mark of 0-1, losing to Western Michigan, 6-1, March 21. Senior Kelsey Jakupcin and sophomore Christine Chiricosta have played at the top-two singles flights, and have teamed up for the Falcons at the top doubles flight. Chiricosta has a 16-4 singles record this year, tied for the best mark on the team. Senior Stefanie Menoff, who has primarily played at the fifth flight, is also 16-4.

» THE SERIES: The Eagles hold a 26-10 series lead over the Falcons. The Eagles won the regular season meeting last season, 4-3, but the Falcons took revenge in the semifinals of the MAC tournament, claiming a 4-2 win and advancing in the tournament.

» AKRON HEARTBREAKER: The Eagles were edged out by the University of Akron, 4-3, March 21. The Eagles picked up a win in doubles competition at the second doubles flight (Karina Ahuja/Xu Chang), but Akron was able to pick up the other two doubles wins. EMU then reeled off three singles wins but lost a tight fourth match, as Akron skidded by with the win.

» BUCKED BY BULLS: The Eagles were no match for the defending MAC Champions, the University at Buffalo, March 20, as the Bulls picked up a 7-0 sweep.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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