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THIS WEEK FOR THE HAWKEYES
The University of Iowa women’s tennis team hosts a pair of Big Ten matches this weekend. The Hawkeyes take on Illinois at 2 p.m. (CT) on Friday and No. 40 Northwestern at noon (CT) on Sunday at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. Admission is free. Fans can view the matches live at hawkeyesports.com/playsight.
B1G SWEEP
The Hawkeyes won both of their conference matches last weekend to improve to 3-1 in the Big Ten. Iowa defeated Wisconsin, 6-2 on March 24, and Minnesota, 4-2, on March 26.
TAKING ON THE FIGHTING ILLINI
The Fighting Illini comes to Iowa City with an 8-9 (2-1) record. Illinois is currently on a four-match win streak defeating Saint Louis (4-1), Rutgers (6-1), No. 33 Maryland (5-2), and Southern Illinois (4-0) in the process. The Fighting Illini is 1-5 on the road this season. Illinois is leading the overall series, 27-25. The last time the Hawkeyes defeated Illinois was in 2014. 
TAKING ON THE WILDCATS
The Wildcats enter the weekend ranked No. 40 in the ITA National Team Rankings. Northwestern has a 7-8 (3-0) record. They are currently on a two-match win streak defeating No. 33 Maryland (5-2) and Rutgers (5-2) last weekend. The Wildcats are 0-5 on the road this season. The Hawkeyes are 2-43 all-time when facing Northwestern.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The Hawkeyes are 7-0 when playing at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex this season. They have blanked five of the seven opponents they have faced on their home court. Iowa won its only home Big Ten conference match, 6-1, on March 11.
HAWKEYES AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
No. 40 Northwestern marks the third ranked opponent on Iowa’s schedule. The Hawkeyes have already faced No. 43 Maryland and No. 26 FIU. They have dropped both ranked matches this season. The last time Iowa defeated a ranked opponent was in 2014 when they beat No. 42 Illinois, 4-3, in Champaign, Illinois.
UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKEYES
The Hawkeyes return to the court next weekend as they host a pair of Big Ten matches. They face No. 2 Ohio State at 6 p.m. (CT) on Friday, and Penn State at 10 a.m. (CT) on Sunday at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. Admission is free.
BECOME A FAN
Fans can follow the Iowa women’s tennis team at facebook.com and via twitter
@Iowa_Tennis. Live results from this weekend are available on the Iowa women’s tennis schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.
