The Illinois State womens tennis team competes on the road against Saint Louis on Friday with a quick turn around to face Big 10 foe and No. 33 ranked Illinois on Sunday. The Birds enter the road swing with an 0-3 spring season record after dropping close matches against Kansas, DePaul and Miami-Ohio. Head coach Chris Hoover expects more tough competition this weekend from Saint Louis and Illinois.
St. Louis always gives us a tough test, said Hoover. We have a good win streak going against them right now, and we want to try to continue that.
After losing 7-0 to the Illini (2-2) during the 2003-04 season, the Birds make the short trip to Champaign with revenge on the mind. Hoover believes the Redbirds, as in years past, will have their work cut out for them in the match.
Illinois is a tough team to beat, said Hoover. We always have our work cut out for us when we play them, but I think weve got some kids who can compete with them. We just need to have a few of our players show up on the same day if were going to get by Illinois.
Were at a point in our season now where everyone is still trying to get comfortable with their roles, Hoover continued. But if everybody can get up and come to play we should see some positives this weekend.
Action is set for the match with Saint Louis (5-1) Friday at the Billiken Sports Center in St. Louis, Mo. at 3 p.m., while the Birds look for vengeance against the Illini at 11 a.m. on the courts of the Atkins Tennis Center in Champaign, Ill.
### -
