Sophomore Meritt Whitley is looking to improve to 4-0 after going undefeated in her first three matches.

Teams that Whitley won matches against are Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Northern Illinois University, and the Indiana University/Purdue University at Fort Wayne Mastodons.

The women’s tennis team is looking for a comeback since losing to IPFW. They are traveling to Carbondale to face the SIU.

Head coach John Blackburn said, “They have good players and have a deep lineup.”

In the women’s previous match they lost to IPFW to a score of 1-6.

“We have been working hard to play a complete match,” Blackburn said.

Whitley was the only one to win her match against the Mastodons.

“She is playing well right now and is looking to have a great year,” Blackburn said.

Currently the women’s tennis team is at 2-1 for the 2011 season, they are 1-1 away, and are 1-0 on neutral courts. Their match will start at 3 p.m.

Freshman Kevin Bauman was injured at the men’s last tennis match against the Purdue University Boilermakers.

The men too are looking for a comeback since with their loss to the Boilermakers the score of that match was 0-7.

“Purdue is a really good team and we are looking forward to what we can do this weekend,” Blackburn said.

The men’s tennis team is traveling to Danville to take on the Northern Illinois University Huskies.

Last time the Eastern men’s tennis team played against the Huskies the men lost to them with a score of 2-5.

Only one competitor for EIU won his singles match last year and that man was sophomore Warren Race. The Panthers also had one team win in doubles last year against the Huskies. One of the men on that team last year still currently plays for EIU, that man is senior Vance Davis.

“If they can stay relaxed and be confident they can win against Northern Illinois University,” Blackburn said.

“This team is deep in their lineup and have good players,” Blackburn said.

For the season currently the Panthers are 1-3 overall and are 1-3 away.

Grant Truccano can be reached at 581-7944 or gatruccano@eiu.edu