CHARLESTON, Ill. -- The Eastern Illinois men's and women's tennis squads return to the court later this week, as the Panther men head to Bradley on Wednesday (March 6), while the EIU women travel to IUPUI on Friday (March 8).

First serves are set for 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Clubs at River City and West Indy Racquet Club indoor facilities in Peoria and Indianapolis, respectively.

At 3-2 overall, the Panther men are coming off a touch 6-1 loss at instate rival Southern Illinois, while the Eastern women enjoy a 4-2 early-spring mark which includes two straight wins at Indianapolis and Bradley.

A pair of newcomers, Robert Skolik and Ryan Henderson, currently pace the Panther guys with 3-2 records in singles, as Skolik has now won three straight while playing at the No. 4 spot.  Henderson, meanwhile, has seen action at both the No. 5 and No. 6 spots in the EIU lineup.

When teamed with Skolik , junior Kevin Bauman enjoy a 3-1 record at No. 2 doubles, as the duo have won three consecutive contests.

Junior Janelle Prisner and sophomore Sephora Boulbahaiem both own identical 4-2 records in singles, with Prisner leading the Panthers at the top of the lineup, while Boulbahaiem ties freshman Ali Foster at 4-1 overall at the No. 2 and No. 4 spot in the Eastern lineup, respectively.

Senior Merritt Whitley owns a 4-2 doubles mark when teamed with Prisner at the No. 1 duo spot as the pair enter the Friday meet having won two straight.

For the competition, the Bradley men are 4-5 on the year with key wins over Saint Louis and Illinois-Chicago, while the IUPUI women are just 2-9 overall, behind lone wins against UW-Green Bay and Valparaiso.

Both Panther units are soon set to begin Ohio Valley Conference action in the next few weeks, as the women will travel to Southeast Missouri and UT Martin on March 16-17.  The women when then join the guys for a dual meet at SIU Edwardsville on March 21, but not before the men first face Chicago State on March 19.

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID