Eastern men’s tennis will play three matches in three days this weekend, the only stretch of its kind during the regular season. The Panthers will play Indiana State at 5:30 p.m. on Friday in Terra Haute, Ind., then travel to Fort Wayne, Ind., to play Niagara on Saturday and St. Francis (Pa.) on Sunday.

After losing three matches in a row, the men’s tennis team turned the downward momentum around with a victory last Sunday at Valparaiso.

The Panthers participated in limited practice this week, and this should help keep them fresh for this weekend’s stretch. However, Eastern head tennis coach John Blackburn said facing three opponents in such a brief period of time limits the team’s ability to prepare for each opponent individually. Blackburn said he feels the weekend matches will be a valuable test for the squad.

“I think it’s a good measuring stick of our toughness,” Blackburn said.

The toughness of junior Vuk Milicevic will be tested this weekend after returning to the court last weekend after recovering from a wrist injury. With limited time on the court, many players would be concerned about the amount of play the team will face this weekend. Milicevic said the weekend would be grueling, but he was not worried about re-injuring his wrist.

“We’ve taken the right precautions,” Milicevic said. “It hasn’t bothered me at all.”

More than anything, Milicevic said he was relieved and excited to be back on the court with an opportunity to contribute to the team.

Against Indiana State, Milicevic will be facing two of his countrymen. Indiana State freshman Joshua Smith and sophomore Mpiloenhle Migogo are both South African natives.

Indiana State currently has a 1-5 record, and lost to Purdue on Feb. 8. Eastern’s second opponent of the road trip, Niagara (1-3), has lost its last three matches. Eastern will finish the weekend against St. Francis (Pa.). The Red Flash have not won a match this season.

The Eastern women’s tennis team will be looking to add to its undefeated 2-0 start of the spring season. Friday, the women will play Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne at 6 p.m. The women will then play Niagara at 7 a.m. on Saturday. IPFW currently holds a 3-5 record, while Niagara remains winless at 0-4.

The Panthers and Blackburn have not reached a consensus on the importance of remaining undefeated. Blackburn said he does not concern himself with the team’s record at this point, but more with his players’ level of play and the ultimate goal of winning a conference championship. Women’s team captain Natalie Martin feels differently.

“It matters,” Martin said. “I definitely want to go undefeated.”

The Panthers should have senior No. 1 Sandra Sasidharan in the lineup this weekend. During singles play against Northern Illinois last weekend, Sasidharan’s match was retired due to injury. However, Tuesday she participated fully in practice, and Blackburn said she would be ready to play this weekend.

This week Blackburn emphasized execution during the women’s team’s practice, and he said that was something he felt could have been more decisive in the win against Northern Illinois.

Both matches for the women’s team will be held in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Martin said she felt that was one of the more favorable venues the Panthers will play at.

JC Clark can be reached at 581-7944 or at jrclark2@eiu.edu.

Sophomore tennis player Haley Homburg hits a forehand volley back during tennis practice. Homburg came back against Northern Illinois to pick up a win in the third set at the number three singles. The Panthers take on Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne this weeken

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