To enter a match on your home court against a ranked conference opponent would be a daunting task for any tennis team, especially the UB women's tennis team who have lost 29 straight Mid-American Conference matches.
UB will take on the defending MAC champions and current MAC leader, the Marshall Thundering Herd, in the Bulls' home opener on Friday.
"Playing at home can be especially nice for our team because half of the team is from around the Western N.Y. area," said Kristen Ortman in a press release earlier this week. "Knowing that your family and friends are there to watch can be comforting out on the court. You have that familiarity at home that you sometimes don't get out on the road."
Sitting at the bottom of the MAC, UB (7-6, 0-4 MAC) is coming off a two-match road trip that commenced last weekend with a tough 4-3 loss to Northern Illinois on day one. The Bulls fared no better on day two and were shut out by Western Michigan by a score of 7-0.
UB's moderately successful number one doubles team of Ortman and Miglena Nenova (15-4, 1-3 MAC) will be put to the test when they take on the 16th ranked doubles team in the nation in Marshall's Jessica Johnson and Ashley Kroh. This season for the Herd, the duo garners a 14-2 record, and has recorded victories over several other ranked opponents.
Marshall (13-3, 3-0 MAC) enters Friday's match ranked 48th in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Poll, released on Tuesday. The Thundering Herd continues their dominance in the MAC, owning a five-game win streak and an undefeated conference record.
Marshall also features doubles squads that boast an impressive .812 winning percentage, winning the doubles point 14 of 16 tries.
The match is slated to begin at 1 p.m. on Friday at the Village Glen Tennis Center in Williamsville.
