THIS WEEK IN BILLIKEN TENNIS
Wednesday, April 10 • Women at Dayton • Miamisburg, Ohio • 11 a.m. (CT)
Thursday, April 11 • Women vs. Duquesne • Miamisburg, Ohio • 9 a.m. (CT)
Thursday, April 11 • Men vs. Duquesne • Miamisburg, Ohio • 9 a.m. (CT)
Saturday, April 13 • Men at Illinois • Urbana, Ill. • 5 p.m.
 
Both Saint Louis tennis teams play twice this week, and all four matches are on the road. The Billiken women take on two Atlantic 10 Conference rivals, facing Dayton Wednesday, April 10, and Duquesne Thursday, April 11. Both contests are at Dayton. The Billiken men also play Duquesne on Thursday before traveling to Urbana, Ill., for a Saturday, April 13, meeting with 27th-ranked Illinois.
 
The links for live results of the matches are available on each team's respective schedule page on www.SLUBillikens.com. In addition, the men's match at Illinois will be streamed.
 
WOMEN
The Billikens (13-2) are coming off a 1-1 week, defeating Bradley 5-2 and falling to Missouri by the same score. Kseniia Aleshina and Sandra Gines won at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively, against Missouri.
 
Emmerson White (10-1), Gines (9-1) and Elizabeth Mintusova (9-3) continue to lead a singles effort that has seen Saint Louis go 54-17 (.761) in dual matches. The Billikens are 27-10 (.730) in doubles, led by Norhan Hesham and Nicolly Ferreira's 10-1 mark (8-1 at No. 2). Mintusova and Aleshina are 5-2 at No. 1.
 
After a 6-4 start, Dayton has lost five of its last six to set its record at 7-9. Duquesne has won three of its last four to improve to 6-10.
 
"We learned a lot last week about where we are as a team when faced with adversity," head coach Justin Stuckey said. "I think our best tennis is ahead of us, but we have to regroup quickly as we have two A-10 matches this week.

"Dayton always brings great energy and plays sound doubles," Stuckey said. "We have to look for those opportunities a bit more. They are an improved team from last year, so we need to be ready to go. Duquesne also has improved from last year. They have a deep lineup that will test us in singles and doubles."
 
MEN
The Billikens (12-2), who own a four-match winning streak, were idle last week. SLU defeated Butler 4-3 in its most recent match March 29, the Bills' fifth 4-3 victory this season.
 
Saint Louis' singles winning percentage is up to .620 (44-27), led by Theo Ortis at 8-2. Valentin Vasquez is 8-4, while Declan Townsend and Luca Lo Nardo are 7-5 with winning streaks of four and three, respectively.
 
Vasquez and Lo Nardo are SLU's top doubles team with a 5-2 record.
 
Duquesne's 7-8 record includes three matches vs. A-10 opponents; the Dukes defeated Fordham and lost to Richmond and Davidson. Illinois, which takes on Northwestern Saturday before facing the Billikens, is 12-8 overall and 4-6 vs. nationally ranked opponents (all in the top 25). Three of the Fighting Illini's six losses against top-25 foes have been by a 4-3 score.
 
"Duquesne has great doubles teams and has competed well in all of its matches this year," Stuckey said. "Illinois has consistently been ranked around the top 25 in the country this year. How we start the match with our doubles, and the things we do well like our energy and playing as a team, will be key for us."