WASHINGTON (March 15, 2018) – Coach Larry Strickland and the Howard University Men's & Women's Tennis teams face Chicago State (CSU) in Orlando, Fla. Match-time is set for 11:30 a.m. at the USTA National Campus.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEWS
 
HU men search continues for win No. 1 following Tuesday's (March 13) defeat to North Carolina Central and a 6-1 loss to Fairleigh Dickinson Monday (March 12). Despite the setbacks, freshman Roger Lyn was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Week after earning his first collegiate win against the Knights. The doubles tandem of sophomore Sagar Raju and junior Karim Shokeir have produced a 3-3 record at No. 1 to lead the Bison.
 
Howard women brings a 3-5 dual-match record into Friday's contest after claiming a 4-2 win over Fairleigh Dickinson Monday (March 12), followed by a 7-0 victory against Rochester Wednesday (March 14). Freshman Yassmine Khiri has tallied a team-best singles mark, 4-2, while fellow classmate Nathalie Finch and junior Nicole Hutchison is right behind her with three wins apiece.
 
CSU men heads into this week's slate holding a season record of 4-10 after concluding a four-match homestand last weekend with defeats to Wright State (2-5) and Lewis (3-4) at the H-F Racquet and Fitness Club in Homewood, Ill. Senior Christian Gonzalez leads the Green and White with a 16-8 singles record, which includes a 9-4 ledger in dual matches.
 
Chicago State women bring a 3-12 dual-match record into this week's matches after dropping contests at home last week to Omaha (1-6), Oakland (2-5) and Lewis (3-4). Freshman Katarina Drazic posted a 3-0 singles record to claim Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week accolades.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Tuesday (March 13), Howard was downed by conference foe North Carolina Central, 6-1, at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
 
Sophomore Cole Gittens scored Hu's lone point in a losing effort, defeating NCCU's Sebastian Bromley in straight sets (7-5, 6-1).
 
Wednesday (March 14), the Bison picked up back-to-back victories for the first time this season after blanking Rochester, 7-0, at the Fort Gatlin Tennis Center in Orlando, Fla.
 
HU rolled through singles competition, winning all six matches. Freshman Aria Ragas won her match against Rochester's Bianca Dyer in three sets (6-4, 5-7, 10-6) while the other Bison claimed victories in straight sets.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
On March 24, both squads hit the road to Hampton, Va. where they will meet Hampton in conference play. The Battle of the Real HU on the court starts at 2 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.