The Eastern women’s team is off to its best start since 2008.

At 3-0, with wins against Illinois State, Saint Francis and Southern Illinois-Carbondale, the women have an opportunity to match their best start to a season in six years, as they travel to Evansville to play the Purple Aces on Friday.

Following a sweep of Saint Francis on Feb. 2, Eastern defeated Southern for the first time in program history with a 4-3 win.

Although the Panthers are on a three-match winning streak, Eastern coach John Blackburn said there is room for improvement.

“As a team we played well in some big spots (Friday), but I see so much room for improvement, which is exciting but also a challenge for us,” Blackburn said in a press release.

Eastern’s opponent Friday, in Evansville, has started in the opposite direction.

The Purple Aces have faced Middle Tennessee-Tennessee, Lipscomb, Chattanooga and Louisville this season, losing all four matches.

Evansille suffered 4-3 losses against Middle-Tennessee and Lipscomb to start its season, but has lost 7-0 and 6-1, to Chattanooga and Louisville, respectively.

Last season, Eastern began the year playing Evansville, defeating the Purple Aces 4-3.

The Eastern men’s tennis team has a chance to win its second straight match after its 9-0 win against Saint Francis on Sunday,

The men are 2-2 on the season and have a 1 p.m. scheduled start time against Dayton on Sunday.

Prior to its win against Saint Francis, Eastern lost 6-1 the previous day against Ball State.

Men’s tennis coach Eric Stark said the team had chances to win doubles matches against Ball State.

Eastern won one doubles match against the Cardinals, but lost the other two by scores of 8-5 and 8-7, respectively.

Sunday’s match against Dayton pits the Panthers against a 1-4 team.

The Flyers began their season losing three straight matches before a 4-1 win against Chicago State on Feb. 8.

Dayton then played Valparaiso Sunday and lost 5-0.

Eastern has played two matches in its last two weekends, but will only have its one match against Dayton Sunday.

The Flyers on the other hand will play Toledo on the road Friday before taking on the Panthers.

While the projected temperatures are expected to be 29 and 37 degrees in Dayton, Ohio and Evansville, Ind., respectively, Eastern will avoid the temperatures playing indoors.

The women’s team starts at 7 p.m. Friday in the Tri-State Athletic Club and the men’s team will begin their play at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Five Seasons Tennis Center.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or asoto2@eiu.edu.