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This Weekend: Blue Demons vs. Badgers, Vikings, and Maroons
CHICAGO The DePaul women’s tennis team opens its 2009 dual schedule with a trio of matches spread out between Saturday and Sunday. On Jan. 24, the Blue Demons travel to Wisconsin for a 12 p.m. (CST) match. They return to Chicago on Sunday to welcome Cleveland State at 1 p.m. at the Lakeshore Athletic Center before traveling to Chicago’s south side to go up against the University of Chicago at 7 p.m. Head coach Mark Ardizzone’s squad enters the dual campaign after competing last weekend at the Northwestern Wildcat Invitational, where the Blue Demons compiled two singles victories and three doubles wins. DePaul comes off a tournament schedule that featured a number of winning performances. Freshman Gia McKnight carries a team-high 12 singles victories from tournaments. Sophomore Selma Salkovic tallied 12 doubles victories, six of which came when partnered with McKnight. The fall season was highlighted by a runner-up doubles championship from Senior Dunja Antunovic and junior Kirsten Gambrell. The duo outplayed opponents from Southern Illinois, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, and Northwestern before bowing out to BIG EAST Conference rival, Notre Dame. The second place performance by the pair is the highest any Blue Demon has ever finished at the ITA Regional Championships. Other fall highlights include a singles flight championship from junior Sandra Zmak and McKnight at the Bronco Invitational last September. DePaul holds several spots in the latest ITA polls. While the team is ranked No. 62, Antunovic is currently ranked No. 109 on the singles poll. In addition, the Antunovic and Gambrell were given a doubles ranking of No. 36. The Blue Demons and Badgers met two years ago in Milwaukee, Wisc., where DePaul blanked Wisconsin, 7-0. This is the first time in over five years the Blue Demons have competed against Cleveland State or the University of Chicago.
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