Spring Break
Tennis Preview: Busy week for both squads
Panthers to play five combined matches
Neil Schneider / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: Sports
The Eastern tennis teams remain focused and confident heading into this weekend's matches in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The Eastern men's squad will be playing matches against Dayton, Robert Morris (Pa.) and Indiana-Purdue-Ft. Wayne. The Eastern women's squad will be playing doubles-only matches against Robert Morris (Pa.) and IPFW.
Eastern head tennis coach John Blackburn is expecting tough matches with all three schools.
The Eastern men's squad will play Dayton at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Robert Morris at 5 p.m. on Saturday and IPFW at noon on Sunday. The Eastern women's squad will play Robert Morris at 5 p.m. on Saturday and IPFW at 7 a.m. on Sunday. All matches will take place at the Pine Ridge Racquet and Fitness Club.
Last season, both Eastern squads dominated IPFW 7-0. On the men's side, then-sophomore Jeff Rutherford won at No. 1 singles in three sets and then-junior Jordan Nestrud won at No. 3 singles in straight sets.
On the women's side, Abby Allgire and Carrie Larson picked up the doubles point with a score of 8-4.
Blackburn said both teams will be focusing during practice this week on their doubles competition as well as their team fitness.
"We have been showing signs of improvement in practice and in the matches and we're hoping that shows up in our double matches this weekend," Blackburn said.
Eastern assistant coach Andres Weisskopf said that while he anticipates tough matches this weekend, he expects the teams to adjust to the matches.
"We have really been focusing on our doubles play and trying to improve on our returns and serves," Weisskopf said. "For us to be successful this weekend we must believe in ourselves and build off of that."
Both squads are trying to build momentum.
The Eastern women's tennis team lost 5-2 against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Rockford's Clocktower Resort. Eastern junior Hayley Homburg picked up a win at No. 3 singles for the Panthers (1-3). Sophomore Cara Huck picked up a win at No. 2 singles. The Panthers lost two singles matches in three sets.
The Eastern men's tennis team lost 6-1 to Saint Louis on Friday in Champaign.
The Panthers (1-2) picked up only one win, and that was senior Vuk Milicevic winning at No. 3 singles. Eastern also lost two singles matches in three sets to the Billikens (3-1).
"We lost close matches against Saint Louis on the men's side and (against Northern Illinois on) women's side," Weisskopf said. "This week I expect we will come out with a little more confidence than we did last week."
Blackburn also wants the squads to show more consistency on the tennis courts.
Neil Schneider can be reached at 581-7944 or at jnschneider@eiu.edu.
The Eastern men's squad will be playing matches against Dayton, Robert Morris (Pa.) and Indiana-Purdue-Ft. Wayne. The Eastern women's squad will be playing doubles-only matches against Robert Morris (Pa.) and IPFW.
Eastern head tennis coach John Blackburn is expecting tough matches with all three schools.
The Eastern men's squad will play Dayton at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Robert Morris at 5 p.m. on Saturday and IPFW at noon on Sunday. The Eastern women's squad will play Robert Morris at 5 p.m. on Saturday and IPFW at 7 a.m. on Sunday. All matches will take place at the Pine Ridge Racquet and Fitness Club.
Last season, both Eastern squads dominated IPFW 7-0. On the men's side, then-sophomore Jeff Rutherford won at No. 1 singles in three sets and then-junior Jordan Nestrud won at No. 3 singles in straight sets.
On the women's side, Abby Allgire and Carrie Larson picked up the doubles point with a score of 8-4.
Blackburn said both teams will be focusing during practice this week on their doubles competition as well as their team fitness.
"We have been showing signs of improvement in practice and in the matches and we're hoping that shows up in our double matches this weekend," Blackburn said.
Eastern assistant coach Andres Weisskopf said that while he anticipates tough matches this weekend, he expects the teams to adjust to the matches.
"We have really been focusing on our doubles play and trying to improve on our returns and serves," Weisskopf said. "For us to be successful this weekend we must believe in ourselves and build off of that."
Both squads are trying to build momentum.
The Eastern women's tennis team lost 5-2 against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Rockford's Clocktower Resort. Eastern junior Hayley Homburg picked up a win at No. 3 singles for the Panthers (1-3). Sophomore Cara Huck picked up a win at No. 2 singles. The Panthers lost two singles matches in three sets.
The Eastern men's tennis team lost 6-1 to Saint Louis on Friday in Champaign.
The Panthers (1-2) picked up only one win, and that was senior Vuk Milicevic winning at No. 3 singles. Eastern also lost two singles matches in three sets to the Billikens (3-1).
"We lost close matches against Saint Louis on the men's side and (against Northern Illinois on) women's side," Weisskopf said. "This week I expect we will come out with a little more confidence than we did last week."
Blackburn also wants the squads to show more consistency on the tennis courts.
Neil Schneider can be reached at 581-7944 or at jnschneider@eiu.edu.
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