SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The University of Illinois Springfield tennis teams are ready to go to work as both squads hit the road to take on Missouri Baptist on Friday. It is the second meeting between the two teams. On both sides, Missouri Baptist took home a 6-3 victory in October.

In the offseason, first-year head coach Tom Rees added two players to each team. For the women, Jane Carter and Ana Fedmasu added depth to the line up. Both had outstanding careers with Fedmasu coming from Woodstock High School and Carter succeeding on the International Tennis Federation circuit.

For the men, Rees added Aksel Dogan and Gerard Carpinell. Dogan hails from Germany and Carpinell is from Spain.

Seniors Janasha Prabhu and Liz Purcell will lead the women and lone senior Hayden Esker will be the guide on the men's side. Esker looks to cement his place in the UIS records books this year as the Effingham, Ill., native already tops the charts for the most single-season and GLVC singles wins in program history since joining the NCAA Division II ranks.

The teams will play a total of 20 dual matches and make their home court debuts on March 12 against GLVC foe UMSL in a non-conference dual at Washington Park. Once again, Washington Park will play host to most of UIS' matches, while also traveling over to Chatham Glenwood High School for two matches as well.

For conference, the Prairie Stars host Indianapolis, McKendree and Southern Indiana, while hitting the road to St. Joseph's, Lewis and Bellarmine. Rees also put GLVC teams of William Jewell, Truman and Quincy on the docket.

The men continue their schedule on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Elgin CC, while the women face off with Truman on Saturday, Feb. 28 in Kirksville, Mo.