SPRINGFIELD, IL – Returning to the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Tournament for second consecutive year, the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's tennis team opens against the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) in the quarterfinal round.
 
Taking a No. 3 seed in the GLVC East Division, the Prairie Stars battle the Tritons on Friday at 2 p.m. at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, MO. UIS put together a divisional record of 3-2. UMSL earned the No. 2 seed in the GLVC West Division, while finishing with a division record of 5-1. The Tritons are currently ranked No. 35 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division II rankings.
 
UIS are facing a familiar opponent after taking an 8-1 loss to UMSL on March 9. The Prairie Stars expect to make improvements after getting a good look at their opponent.
 
"UMSL will be tough," UIS coach Samantha Schall said. "We played them earlier this season, but we know what to expect now. We are going to make some changes that will help us against them."
 
UIS is led by Jane Carter. The senior from Auckland, New Zealand was named to the All-GLVC Team for the fourth consecutive season. Carter put together a record of 16-6 at No. 1 singles.
 
Ana Boza Martin has served as the primary representative for No. 2 singles. The freshman from Madrid, Spain currently holds a singles record of 10-13.
 
Maegan Flight has put together a 15-6 singles record, Kena Bere is currently 13-10 in singles, Kaitlyn Thornhill maintains a 10-6 singles record, Kate Dumstorff has compiled a 6-2 singles record, Hannah Blythe has posted an 8-8 singles record and Hana Iverson is currently 3-2 in singles.
 
Carter/Boza Martin have primarily competed in No. 1 doubles and have put together a 10-8 record. Bere/Thornhill have primarily fielded No. 2 doubles and have posted a 9-8 mark. Flight/Dumstorff currently hold a 6-6 doubles record.
 
Salome Bleuler leads the Tritons with a 20-6 singles record. She was named to the All-GLVC team and is currently ranked No. 67 in the latest ITA NCAA Division II singles rankings.
 
Marina Prediger was also selected to the All-GLVC team. She currently holds an 18-7 singles record.
 
Also contributing for Tritons include Annie Hays (19-8), Janet Auclair (12-4), Jennifer Hauer (8-2) and Kristine Lindal (9-4).
 
The primary doubles lineup for UMSL consists of Prediger/Leticia Lunge (8-8) at No. 1 doubles, Blueler/Lindal (12-2) at No. 2 doubles and Auclair/Hays (11-2) at No. 3 doubles.
 
"We are training harder than ever this week to prepare for the tournament. The girls will need to compete at a high level and play with confidence and determination, but they are capable of an upset and surprising the other teams there."
 
GLVC OVERVIEW
Twenty-eighth-ranked Bellarmine University (20-2) won its first-ever GLVC East Division title after turning in a 4-1 divisional record and topped No. 29 University of Indianapolis (14-5) in a 6-3 victory. Indianapolis also went 4-1 in divisional play. Lewis University (10-8) is also ranked No. 43 in the nation.
 
Eighteenth-ranked Drury University (15-1) captured the GLVC West Division title with a 6-0 divisional record.
 
All matches will be broadcast on http://glvcsn.com
 
Friday, April 20 – Springfield, MO (Cooper Tennis Complex) – 2 p.m.
Quarterfinal #1: No. 1E Bellarmine vs. No. 4W Rockhurst University (9-9) – (Courts 1-4)
Quarterfinal #2: No. 2W UMSL vs. No. 3E UIS – (Courts 9-12)
Quarterfinal #3: No. 1W Drury vs. No. 4E Lewis – (Courts 13-16)
Quarterfinal #4: No. 2E Indianapolis vs. No. 3W Maryville University (10-6) – (Courts 5-8)
 
Saturday, April 21 – Springfield, MO (Cooper Tennis Complex) – 12 p.m.
Semifinal #1: Winner of Quarterfinal #1 vs. Winner of Quarterfinal #2 – (Courts 1-6)
Semifinal #2: Winner of Quarterfinal #3 vs. Winner of Quarterfinal #4 – (Courts 11-16)
 
Sunday, April 22 – Springfield, MO (Cooper Tennis Complex) – 12 p.m.
GLVC Championship: Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2 – (Courts 11-16)