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Ericka Dawson
Sarah Twidwell

Tennis Opens Up Spring Break Slate

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Western Illinois will play four matches during spring break, starting with USC Upstate Tuesday (March 12).

Matches NINE and TEN 

Who | Western Illinois (0-8) at USC Upstate (1-13)
When |  Tuesday (March 10) at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Where | Spartanburg, S.C. - USC Upstate Tennis Complex
Social Media | Twitter + Facebook #TRADITIONofTOUGH

Matches ELEVEN and TWELVE

Who | Western Illinois (0-8) vs. Radford (5-3) and Norfolk State (0-2)
When | Thursday (March 12) at 4 p.m. and Friday (March 13) at 1p.m.
Where | Hilton Head S.C. 
Social Media | Twitter + Facebook #TRADITIONofTOUGH

First Serve | The Western Illinois women's tennis team heads into spring break with a doubleheader at USC Upstate on Tuesday (March 10) followed by a match against Radford on Thursday (March 12) and Norfolk State Friday (March 13). 

The Hyden Era | On Aug. 12, Shawn Hyden was named the Western Illinois head women's tennis coach. Hyden comes from Earlham College, where he spent three years as the head men's and women's tennis coach.

During his tenure at Earlham, he led the women's tennis program to back-to-back Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament appearances in 2017 and 2018 – the first postseason berths in program history. Hyden also guided the men's tennis team to four consecutive appearances in the HCAC Tournament where they finished runners-up for the third straight season. 

Strong Start | Nikhita Simhambhatla has already shined to start her Leatherneck career. The freshman led the team in the fall with four victories in singles play. 

Lone Senior | In her final campaign as a Leatherneck, Laura Ballesteros was selected to The Summit League Player to Women's Tennis Preseason Athletes to Watch List.  In the fall season, Ballesteros posted a 3-2 record with wins at the Olivet Nazarene Invitational and the Cougar Invite. She has totaled 22 careers single victories with seven in Summit League play. Last season she shined at the Quincy Invite. Ballesteros won the No. 1 singles flight at the Quincy Invite and was part of the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles championships.

Fresh Five | Five new student-athletes joined the program for the 2019-20 season - Ericka Dawson, Lucky Kancherla, Nikhita Simhambhatla, Grace Stevens and Mara Vidal. 

Up Next | Western Illinois opens up Summit League play at home versus North Dakota on Saturday (March 21) along with the host of a non-league battle against Saint Louis Sunday (March 11). 
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