THIS WEEK IN BILLIKEN TENNIS
Wednesday, Feb. 14 • Women vs. Eastern Illinois • St. Clair Tennis Club • Noon
Thursday, Feb. 15 • Men vs. Eastern Illinois • St. Clair Tennis Club • Noon
Sunday, Feb. 18 • Men vs. Austin Peay • Evansville, Ind. • 11 a.m.
 
Saint Louis tennis plays three matches this week. The lone contest for the women's team (2-0) is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 14, as the Billikens host Eastern Illinois. The Billiken men (1-1) welcome Eastern Illinois the following day before taking on Austin Peay in a neutral-site match in Evansville, Ind., on Sunday, Feb. 18.
 
Links for live results of all three matches are available on the tennis schedule pages on www.SLUBillikens.com.
 
WOMEN
Ohio Valley Conference member Eastern Illinois brings an 0-4 record into Wednesday's match. The Panthers have suffered losses to Illinois, Illinois State, IUPUI and Cincinnati.
 
"EIU has several new additions to its team, so it will be important to be very focused at the start of the match," head coach Justin Stuckey said. "How we start the match will be very critical to how we do in doubles. I think if we start the doubles the right way with what we learned from our last match, it will translate very well for us to be in the match come time for singles."
 
In dual-meet action, Sandra Gines and Emmerson White are 2-0 in singles play for Saint Louis. Norhan Hesham and Nicolly Ferreira have teamed for a 2-0 doubles mark.
 
The Billikens notched victories of 4-3 over Oral Roberts and 4-1 over Southern Indiana last week to start 2-0 for a second consecutive season.
 
MEN
Eastern Illinois, which competes in the Horizon League in men's tennis, is 1-6 including a loss to No. 2-ranked Ohio State. Austin Peay, a member of the ASUN Conference, is 2-0 and will face Southern Indiana on Saturday before squaring off with the Billikens.
 
"EIU plays with a lot of energy and intensity," Stuckey said. "We will have to match their intensity and focus to do well against them. Adversity occurs in every match, and we must be prepared when it happens.
 
"Austin Peay is a very well-coached team in doubles and singles," Stuckey said. "We really have to continue improving with our doubles. We're still finding our way early in the season, and this is going to be another strong test for us."
 
Ryota Fukushima, Theo Ortis and Luca Lo Nardo have a singles win apiece for the Bills in the early going.
 
SLU evened its record at 1-1 with a 4-0 shutout at Southern Indiana Feb. 11.