Feb. 27, 2009

DeKalb, Ill. - Fresh off a four-match homestand, the Northern Illinois women's tennis team will play its first road match since Feb. 1, when the Huskies travel to Chicago to face Illinois-Chicago, Saturday at 5 p.m.

The Huskies climbed back to .500 (3-3) Sunday with a 7-0 victory over visiting SIU-Edwardsville and will look to win back-to-back matches for the second time this season.

UIC enters Saturday's matchup with a 2-4 record and will play its third-straight match against a Mid-American Conference team. On Feb. 14, the Flames beat Toledo, 4-3, and then lost at Western Michigan, 4-3, Feb. 21.

"Illinois-Chicago is a good team," said NIU head coach Ryun Ferrell. "They've lost some close matches but they have three players that always pull through for them. They would be a real good team if they played in the MAC, and this match should be a good measuring stick for us."

Ferrell has preached conserving energy at the beginning of matches and is looking for his squad to start strong against UIC.

"I've been talking a lot about starting the way we finish," said Ferrell. "We just need to relax, make the opponent hit shots and see what happens. I'm excited to see what we can do because now is the time we have to realize where we are at."

Sophomore Martina Schnapp enters Saturday's match riding a two-match win streak at No. 3 singles.