The University of Illinois Springfield men's tennis team has its final home and regular season contests this weekend. The matchups against Maryville and Lindenwood will be big as the Prairie Stars try to claim the final spot from the East Division into the conference tournament.
 
UIS kept its postseason hopes alive last weekend with a 4-3 victory over Southern Indiana. That win moved the team to 7-8 overall and 1-3 in GLVC action.
 
The Prairie Stars have been led by their singles play lately, especially at the top of their lineup. The No. 1 and No. 2 positions are 8-4 in the last six games. UIS is also 4-1 in that span at the No. 6 position.
 
It was the No. 6 position that won the Prairie Stars last match against Southern Indiana. With the two teams tied at three, Matthew Lapsley won in straight sets, including a 7-6 tiebreaker in the final one. Lapsley and Tomas Martinez both went 2-0 to lead UIS to that victory.
 
Menno Servaes continues to be the UIS leader this season with 31 total victories, including 19 in singles action. He is currently 7-1 in his last eight singles contests.
 
UIS vs. Maryville
Date/Time/Location: Friday, April 22, 2:00 p.m. – Chatham, Ill.
All-Time Series (NCAA Era): UIS leads 6-0

Maryville is currently 7-6 on the season, and 2-2 in conference action. The Saints are one game ahead of UIS in the conference standings, so the winner on Friday will have the edge heading into the final day of the regular season.
 
The Saints lost a pair of GLVC games last weekend, falling to Lewis by a 4-1 score and Indianapolis by a 7-0 margin. The team's victories all came against Lewis, with Jack Beuttell-Triggs and Jose Hernandez winning a doubles match, and Mario Aleksic winning the No. 1 singles contest.
 
UIS won by a 7-0 score last year in St. Louis, Mo. The Prairie Stars swept all nine matches in the contest.
 
UIS vs. Lindenwood
Date/Time/Location: Saturday, April 23, 11:00 a.m. – Chatham, Ill.
All-Time Series (NCAA Era): Lindenwood leads 6-3

Lindenwood enters the final week of the regular season with a 5-5 overall record, and a 1-3 GLVC mark.
 
The Lions have lost four of their last five contests, including two GLVC games last weekend. Indianapolis defeated Lindenwood by a 4-0 score, and Lewis handed it a 4-2 setback.
 
Last season, UIS earned a 5-2 victory over Lindenwood. The Prairie Stars captured the No. 3 through No. 6 singles matches to clinch the win.
 
Up Next
The GLVC Tournament will take place on April 29-May 1 in St. Louis, Mo.