CONWAY, Ark. – The blazing Central Arkansas tennis team will look to build off its 2-0 SLC start in Texas last weekend as they will welcome the New Orleans Privateers (6-1, 1-1 SLC) and Nicholls State Colonels (1-8, 0-2 SLC) to the UCA Tennis Courts over the next three days.
 
The Bears (8-5, 2-0 SLC) will return to their home crowd after a 7-1 road trip and will look to extend their winning streak to eight, their highest mark since the 2018 season.
 
BEARS VS. PRIVATEERS, MARCH 6 @ 1PM
 
The New Orleans Privateers reside in New Orleans, Louisiana and will arrive in Conway after a four-game homestand that saw a 4-3 win over the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks and 4-3 loss to the Sam Houston State Bearkats to start SLC play. The Privateers will present another challenge to the Bears across the board as they boast a combined 33-9 singles mark and 14-2 mark in doubles.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Ank Vullings and junior Mar Gendra headline New Orleans in singles play as both players sit at 7-0 and 2-0 in the SLC at the No. 1 and 4 respectively. Along with those impressive records, senior Claudette Gilhespie and Week 2 SLC Player of the Week Tristanne Dechoux are also enjoying early success as Gilhespie holds a 6-1 mark at the No. 5 while Dechoux is 5-2 at the No. 3.
 
In doubles play, Dechoux and senior Yurina Asai will look to slow down the fiery top pairing of sophomores Chunxi Xin and Fuka Nonoyama as they hold a 5-1 record and 1-1 mark in SLC play at the No. 1. Outside of them, five other pairings have split time at the No. 2 and 3 and hold a combined record of 9-1. The usual No. 3 pairing of Gildespie and junior Lea Alguacil will carry a four-game winning streak into the match and likely be crucial for New Orleans to secure the doubles point.
 
The Bears hold a 5-1 all-time record over the Privateers, including a perfect 2-0 mark at home.
 
BEARS VS COLONELS, MARCH 8 @ 11AM
 
The Nicholls State Colonels reside in Thibodaux, Louisiana and will carry a seven-game losing streak into their road match with the Northwestern State Lady Demons tomorrow before facing the Bears two days later. The Colonels had a near identical start to SLC play as the Privateers as they also faced the Bearkats and Ladyjacks, but Nicholls dropped both matches at home.
 
The Colonels will carry a 12-38 showing in singles play and 4-17 mark in doubles, including winless marks at the No. 4 in singles and No. 1 in doubles. Freshman Simona Maksimovic carries the lone SLC singles victory for the Colonels, as she won the No. 2 court against the Ladyjacks on March 1. Freshman Carla Bouygues holds the best record among her teammates, as she sits at 4-4 and 2-0 at the No. 5 on the year.
 
In doubles play, Nicholls will look to win their first court of SLC play over the weekend as they dropped all six against the Bearkats and Ladyjacks. The pairing of senior Lingfeng Gu and Bouygues will likely represent the Colonels at the No. 1 and will look for their first win on the season.
 
The Colonels hold a 9-5 all-time record over the Bears, including a 5-2 mark against them in Arkansas.
 
HEAD COACH CASEY WHARTON ON THE WEEKEND
 
"I'm excited to be at home playing on our courts. We had them resurfaced last summer and I'm excited to use them against competition."
 
"I think our matches are going to be tough this week, as they have been every week. New Orleans is very good, and Nicholls will be a tough match as well."
 
"We're going to get some rest tonight and go out tomorrow and play with the best energy that we have while also using the things we've practiced and see what it all adds up to."
 
KEEP UP WITH THE BEARS
 
For live updates during both matches, follow @UCATennis on Twitter.