INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI women's tennis kicks off its season with three home matches over the weekend. The Jags will begin the weekend against Ball State on Friday (Jan. 17), and then will take on Valparaiso on Saturday (Jan. 18) and Western Kentucky on Monday (Jan. 20). All three matches will be played at the West Indy Racquet Club.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
IUPUI vs Ball State – Friday, Jan. 17 // 5 p.m.
IUPUI vs Valparaiso – Saturday, Jan. 18 // 2:30 p.m.
IUPUI vs Western Kentucky – Monday, Jan. 20 // 12 p.m.

ABOUT THE JAGS
IUPUI comes in to the 2020 spring season only losing one player from a season ago, while bringing in three new players. Christina Stankovic and Meghan Bernard posted the most wins last season in singles play for returners with 10. Bernard earned seven wins at the No. 6 spot, the most for any player in a single singles spot.

The most successful doubles team on the season also featured Bernard. The sophomore, teaming with Samantha Hayward, combined for an 8-6 record, including a 5-4 record during conference play.

ABOUT BALL STATE
Ball State is opening their 2020 spring season against the Jaguars after posting a 16-6 record last season. Senior Rebecca Herrington returns as Ball State's wins leader from a season ago, posting a 22-2 overall record and 17-2 dual record, going 14-0 at the No. 4 spot. Two players who finished with 20 wins last season, Payton Gollhofer (20-3) and Isabelle Dohanics (20-5) will both have to be replaced after graduating.

IUPUI is 0-9 all-time against Ball State, the last meeting a 0-7 loss in 2017.

ABOUT VALPARAISO
Valparaiso's first spring match will come against the Jaguars on Saturday. The Crusaders are looking to rebound off of a season where they finished with a 3-18 overall record. Only three players from last season's squad return for Valpo. Claire Czerwonka is the leading returner from a season ago after finishing tied for the team lead in dual wins with six. Czerwonka led the Crusaders with a 6-14 record at the No. 1 spot.

All-time, IUPUI holds a 14-10 lead over the Crusaders, including a 7-0 win last season. IUPUI has won five of the last six matches against Valpo.

ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY
Western Kentucky will have played Butler and Western Illinois before taking on IUPUI to finish its trip to Indianapolis. The Hilltoppers struggled last season with a 3-17 overall record. Leading winner from a season ago, Lisa Friess, returns for her senior season after posting a 5-7 record in dual matches in 2019. Last season, Western Kentucky did not post more than four wins in any singles spot.

IUPUI is 4-1 all-time against the Hilltoppers but the two teams have not met since 2006. IUPUI has won four-straight in the series after dropping the first ever meeting.