Women's Tennis to host Drake Saturday
04/13/2012 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
April 13, 2012
By Tim McCaughan
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.- The Southern Illinois women's tennis team plays host to Drake on Saturday. The Salukis will also be having fan appreciation day tomorrow, supplying pizza to all fans at no charge, beginning at 1 p.m.
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Site: University Courts (Sports Blast if weather is inclement)
First Serve: 1 p.m.
State of Mind
The Salukis come into Saturday on a one match winning streak after defeating Tennessee-Martin, 6-1. Southern looks to finish conference play strong after losing their last conference match to Wichita State, 7-0. SIU enters play 5-2 at home and is going into their final home-stand of the year this weekend, hosting Northern Iowa on Sunday at 10 a.m.
Looking at Drake
Drake comes into Saturday's match having won 19 matches this season, and four straight matches, three of which were conference teams. One win would put the Bulldogs in the 20 win column for the first time since 1992. Manca Krizman comes into the match a perfect 17-0 this season, leading DU.
Double-Trouble
The Salukis have been on a tear this year in doubles competition, compiling a 37-14 (.725) record. Leading Southern is the duo of Melanie Delsart and Korey Love who are 10-3 on the spring season and have won four straight matches at the No. 1 position. Not far behind are Natasha Tomishima and Jennifer Dien who hold a 10-5 spring record.
Delsart's ITA Ranking
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association has ranked Southern Illinois junior Melanie Delsart at No. 10 in the central region. Delsart joins players from Kansas State, Nebraska, Tulsa, Iowa and Missouri among the top 10 singles players in the region, and was the only Missouri Valley Conference player to rank in the top 10 regionally. "I am very pleased and surprised," Delsart said. "I can only say that we have been working very hard as a team, and being ranked is a result of that." Delsart started the season 3-3 in singles play, but since then, she has dominated her opponents winning 10 of 11 matches, all at the No. 1 slot.
Players Mentioned
