INDIANAPOLIS - With their 6-1 loss to Xavier in the books, the Jaguars look to this weekend for their first win of the season. They'll face Dayton on the road Saturday (Feb. 1), and Sunday's match against Evansville has been subsequently canceled due to inclement weather being forecast for the Midwest.
The season has without question been a struggle so far for the Jaguars, but no more than at doubles. In nine matches, the team has taken the doubles point only once.
"We worked a lot on doubles this week, moving in and closing the net," interim head coach
Yulia Smirnova said. "We worked on being more aggressive at the net and improving shot selection."
Julie Brockman and
Abbey Neff have had the most success at doubles, winning two of three matches at No. 3 doubles.
Rachel Swartwood and
Vanessa Whyte are the only other pair with a doubles win, recording it at No. 1 doubles January 19 at Wright State.
Dayton and IUPUI have played each other close the last two years. IUPUI won 5-2 in Dayton two years ago and Dayton won 4-3 in Indianapolis last year. IUPUI took the doubles point with wins in No. 1 and 3 doubles. Both
Bobbi Modesto and
Abbey Neff won in singles but Dayton took the other four singles matches and the match. Dayton is 1-6 but will have one more match before facing IUPUI on Saturday.
Evansville is also 1-6 and has another match Friday. Evansville and IUPUI hadn't played since 2011 when the Purple Aces beat IUPUI 6-1.
Saturday's (Mar. 1) match will begin at 1 p.m. in Dayton and no reschedule date has been discussed for the Evansville match.