MACOMB, Ill. - The Fighting Leatherneck women's tennis team will compete on Saturday, (Feb. 16) in Iowa City against the host Iowa Hawkeyes. This will mark the end of a three week layoff for the Purple and Gold as they look to get back into the swing of things. 

"We're trying to get them better and better every day. We need to really work hard and get better," said third-year head coach Chris Kane. "We have quite a challenge playing Iowa. They are a very good team and have had some oustanding results this year already."

Western has struggled to this point in the season, but Kane sees light at the end of the tunnel. 

"We're going to go in there and we're going to play with a strategy that every game is a match to us. The one thing we have to watch out for is the momentum of an explosion of talent on the other side. We want to cut that off."

"We don't want to have long runs against us. Each game is a new challenge. It's not a continuation of the last one."

Coach Kane emphasized the layoff as a positive to continue to get better on the court. 

"We've been working hard on their ground strokes in practice trying to get more and more consistent because even with a very good team it's still a simple game. Don't make unforced errors. Get your first serve in so you don't get pressured on your second serve. It really still is a simple game."

The Leathernecks will begin their match at Iowa at 3:30 p.m. this coming Saturday. Results will be made readily available following the match.

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