MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Entering the second half of their non-conference schedule, the Milwaukee tennis team will play back-to-back home matches this weekend against South Dakota State (Feb. 24) and Chicago State (Feb. 25) at River Glen Elite in Milwaukee.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Panthers faced Big Ten powerhouse Northwestern last Saturday (Feb. 17) at the Combe Tennis Center and fell by a score of 7-0.
 
WHEN AND WHERE: Milwaukee and South Dakota State are set for a Saturday matchup on February 24 at 11 a.m., and will follow-up with Chicago State the next day at 1 p.m. Both matches will be played at River Glen Elite.
 
SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (SDSU): The Jack Rabbits are currently 0-6 and are comprised of just one senior and five freshmen on its 10-person roster. In 2016-17, SDSU finished 2-19 overall and 0-6 in the Summit League.
 
The squad is highlighted by the Brower sisters, Morgan and Sydney. Junior Morgan Brower finished 2016-17 3-25 in singles play, and ended the season with a winning record in doubles, 13-7.
 
Younger sister and freshman Syndey comes to the program as a four-time singles State Champion and one-time doubles State Champion.
 
SCOUTING CHICAGO STATE: At the mid-point of the non-conference season, the Cougars are currently 3-8 with wins over fellow Horizon League members Green Bay, Detroit Mercy and Purdue Northwest of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
 
The Cougars are led by three seniors, Maria Kostyuk, Lorea Gamboa and Leshia Gadacz. The trio combine for 36 singles wins with Kostyuk, a second team All-Western Athletic Conference award winner, leading the way going 17-17 in the '16-'17 season.
 
Newcomer Iesha Shepherd is the lone athlete with a winning record this season at 9-6. The Bahamas native came in as ranked First in the Bahamas Girl's 16 & 8 rankings.
 
CONFERENCE PLAY RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER: After this weekend's matches, UWM will have just four matches remaining in its non-conference schedule prep before conference play begins with Youngstown State on March 24.
 
UP NEXT: Milwaukee will take on two cross-city foe's next weekend Cardinal Stritch and Marquette. The Panthers will host Cardinal Stritch on Friday, March 2, and follow-up with Marquette the next day at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium.