// FIRST SERVE
The University of Cincinnati tennis team (6-3) returns to the road this weekend with a pair of road contests that will see them face #26 Tennessee and Indiana on their home courts. The Bearcats will first face the nationally-ranked Volunteers (7-1) in Knoxville, Tenn., Friday at 9:30 a.m. before closing the trip at 11 a.m. in Bloomington, Ind., against the Hoosiers (6-4).
// FOLLOW US
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// QUICK SERVES
• Cincinnati enters the weekend with a 6-3 record after splitting a pair of duals in Tennessee last weekend, defeating Middle Tennessee State (4-3) and falling to East Tennessee State (5-2)
• With the win at MTSU, the Bearcats won four in a row for the third time in the last four years
• The doubles team of Alexia Coutino and Emma Miceli went 2-0 over the weekend and have won five in a row, the longest streak of the season for the Bearcats
• Maria Santilli continued her hot start to the dual season as she won twice over the weekend to move to 8-0 in duals at #6 singles
// FOLLOW ALONG
Both duals will be streamed live online with live results also being provided. Click on the links in the red box at the top of the story.
// RETURN TRIPS
Both duals this weekend bring a bit of familiarity to the Bearcats. Last weekend, UC was in the Volunteer State for a pair of duals at Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro, where they defeated host MTSU (4-3) and fell to East Tennessee State (5-2) in a neutral-site dual at MTSU. The Bearcats also have already competed in Bloomington once this year as the participated in the Hoosier Classic during the fall season (Sept. 27-29)
// SCOUTING: TENNESSEE
The Volunteers enter the weekend with a 7-1 record and are ranked #26 in the latest ITA Oracle Collegiate Tennis Rankings (2/18/20). UT has moved up the national rankings this year as team on the strength of four players nationally ranked in singles and one highly regarded doubles squad. Individually, the four ranked Vols include Rebeka Mertena (40), Johanna Silva (55), Kaitlin Staines (73) and Carly Briggs (100) while Staines and partner Tenika McGiffin are #8 nationally in doubles.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. VOLUNTEERS
Cincinnati and Tennessee will be meeting for the first time.
// SCOUTING: INDIANA
The Hoosiers enter the weekend with a 6-4 record after seeing their three-dual win streak snapped in a close 4-3 loss at Yale last week. So far this year, IU has played at home five times, posting a 3-2 record with losses coming to Kentucky and #20 Tennessee.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. HOOSIERS
Cincinnati and Indiana are meeting for the 13th time with the Bearcats looking for their first win in the series (0-12). The Bearcats are 0-7 at Indiana and nearly won last year, falling, 4-3, for the second in four years.
// MIGHTY MARIA
The Bearcats have played nine duals this Spring and Maria Santilli has been in the lineup for eight, playing at #6 singles in each. Not only has she won all eight matches, she has dropped just one set
// CINCINNATI 500?
Cincinnati is 6-3 on the year entering its duals at Tennessee and Indiana. With those wins, the Bearcats now have 493 all-time victories in program history, needing just seven more to reach 500
// IT'S ACADEMIC
The UC Athletics Department has continued to shine academically with the tennis team being toward the top of the list annually. During the 2018-19 academic year, the team amassed a cumulative GPA of 3.727 as nine players earned recognition from the league as AAC All-Academic. The team also was honored with the AAC Team Academic Excellence Award which is given annually to the team with the highest GPA in the league in each sport. The tennis program was one of five UC programs to have the highest GPA in their respective sport for the 2018-19 academic year. Earlier this month, the grades were released for the Fall 2019 semester with tennis once again leading the charge at UC with its 3.796 GPA the best among all women's teams and second overall behind only men's cross country and their 3.829.
// NEXT TIME OUT
After four on the road, the Bearcats finally return home next Friday (February 28) as they will play host to Wright State. The dual with the Raiders will be played at Western Tennis & Fitness Club and will begin at 5 p.m.
Tennis Set for Road Duals at Tennessee, Indiana
The University of Cincinnati tennis team (6-3) returns to the road this weekend with a pair of road contests that will see them face 26 Tennessee and Indiana on their home courts.
