UPDATE: THE WEATHER IS WONDERFUL AND THE TITANS WILL PLAY OUTSIDE ON THE UDM CAMPUS AT THE TITAN TENNIS COURTS TODAY (4/11). THE WOMEN WILL PLAY UIC AT 11AM AND THE MEN WILL PLAY VALPO AT 3PM. ADMISSION IS FREE! UDMTENNIS GOTITANS

DETROIT (4/10/2014) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's tennis team will match up with the 17-time defending Horizon League champion from UIC on Friday and then follow that with a vital conference match with Valparaiso on Saturday. UDM will play UIC on Friday at 11am on the Titan Tennis Courts on campus or at 8:00 p.m. at the Franklin Athletic Club. On Saturday, Detroit will play Valparaiso at 2:30 p.m. at the Port Huron Tennis House in Port Huron.
 
What Could Happen
Depending on the weather and a few other logistical concerns, the Titans could have its rematch with UIC on campus starting at 11:00 a.m. If certain conditions are not met, Detroit and UIC will face each other on Friday evening at the Franklin Athletic Club in Southfield. The Titans will then face Valparaiso Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Port Huron.
 
Last Weekend
Detroit (8-6, 3-2 Horizon League) won a 4-1 match over Wright State on the road last weekend. The Titans won two of three in doubles and then three singles victories clinched the match for Detroit. Sophomore Valeryia Kulikovskaya won her match at No. 2 singles and also paired with freshman Anna Davydova at No. 3 doubles highlighting Detroit's individual play.
 
UIC Flames
The Flames (6-10, 3-1 HL) have shown they can be beaten this year in the Horizon League falling by a 4-3 score at Milwaukee on April 5. UIC did earn HL wins over Valparaiso and Wright State each by a 7-0 score, and then also a 6-1 win over Green Bay. The last match for UIC was on April 6 as the Flames won 6-1 on the road at Green Bay. UIC boasts four seniors and a junior on its team of seven giving the Flames the experience to return to the Horizon League Finals in hopes of capturing an 18th straight title.
 
The Rematch
Detroit beat UIC in Chicago last year in the dual-match season with a 4-3 win to break a conference win streak of 146-straight matches for the Flames. UIC went on to win its 17th straight HL Women's Tennis Championship and had completely dominated the Horizon League in women's tennis. Prior to the Titan loss, the Flames had not been defeated a conference opponent since the 1996 season, when they fell to Green Bay (April 21, 1996) in the postseason tournament final. The win was also the first ever for the Titans over UIC after 17 straight wins for the Flames.
 
Valparaiso Crusaders
The Crusaders (2-16, 1-3 HL) are near the bottom of the Horizon League with its lone victory coming on the road by a 6-1 score at Green Bay. Valparaiso has fallen 7-0 to UIC, Wright State, and Milwaukee in its three losses.  The two overall wins on the year for Valpo came in its dual-match opener with a 5-2 win over Robert Morris (Ill.) and the win over Green Bay on April 5. The Crusaders went an astounding 15 matches in between victories.
 
Two For The Money
The UDM women have won two Horizon League matches in a row with a 4-1 win over Wright State on Saturday and a 4-3 home win over Youngstown State on March 30. The Titans are currently 3-2 in the Horizon League after finishing with a 5-2 league mark last year and advancing to the Horizon League Semifinals for the seventh straight year.  
 
And Then There Was One
After this weekend, Detroit's lone scheduled match-up that remains is senior day on April 19 against Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies will play Detroit on the 19th with match time and potential location to be announced.
 
Social Media
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