WASHINGTON (February 16, 2023) – Howard University women's and men's tennis teams have a full weekend ahead of them as each squad returns home to host a pair of nonconference matchups at the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation's East Capitol Campus in Southeast D.C.
 
Friday (Feb.17), the women's team squares off against Johns Hopkins, a first-time opponent, then face Villanova the following day (Feb. 18). The Bison have not faced off against the Villanova Wildcats since 2011, which they won the previous matchup.
 
As for the men, they are also facing a first-time opponent in dual competition, Bucknell, Saturday (Feb. 18) and will be looking to break their five-match losing streak against Mount St. Mary's Sunday (Feb. 19).
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
HOWARD WOMEN
 
The Lady Bison started this week off strong with multiple team members receiving accolades from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
 
Freshman Selah Stibbins (Minneapolis) earned the title, MEAC Rookie of the Week, and sophomore Sifa Butcher (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was named women's MEAC Player of the Week.
 
JOHNS HOPKINS
 
A pair of Johns Hopkins freshman singles players are ranked in the top 50 nationally in the ITA Polls, sponsored by Tennis-Point. Jay Xiao is ranked 27^th in the nation and seventh in the Atlantic South. Kamila Wong is ranked 36^th in the nation and ninth in the region.
 
VILLANOVA
 
The Villanova Wildcats enter with a 1-3 record and fell short to the Bison during their last matchup in 2011.
 
HOWARD MEN
 
Sophomore Marcel Dawson (Columbus, Ga.) was named the MEAC Men's Player of the Week earlier this week, and won his singles and doubles matches last Friday (Feb. 10) against UDC. The men are seeking a bounce back from their loss on the road last week at Lehigh.
 
BUCKNELL

Bucknell enters this weekend's contest with a two-match winning streak. Bucknell competed in five fall tournaments, resulting in a combined 42-37 singles record and a 21-15 doubles ledger.
 
MOUNT ST MARYS
 
Mount St. Mary's enters this weekend's match with a three-match losing streak.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Sunday (Feb. 12), both squads fell on the road at Lehigh.
 
The men's team fell, 4-0, while the women came up short against the Mountain Hawks, 4-3, in Bethlehem, Pa.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
On Feb. 25, the Lady Bison are set to host Georgetown at the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation's East Capitol Campus in Southeast D.C. Match time has not yet been determined.

For the men, they travel to Cary, N.C., for the annual MEAC Round Up (March 16-18), hosted by North Carolina Central.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.