HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's tennis team looks to continue its winning ways this weekend when it travels for a 3 p.m. match at Valparaiso on Saturday and a 4 p.m. tilt at UIC on Sunday.

The Norse opened Horizon League play at 2-0 after defeating Youngstown State and Cleveland State each by a score of 4-3. NKU is riding a three-match win streak and sits at 5-3 overall.

The pair of matches this weekend wraps up a seven-match road swing for NKU.

Top-flight singles player Mate Virag claimed victories over YSU and CSU last weekend in straight sets to earn his second-consecutive Horizon League Player of the Week honor. The junior has won six of his last seven singles matches for a 6-2 record this spring.

Lukas Clemens also went 2-0 in singles action last weekend with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over YSU's Luke Purser and a 7-6 (8), 6-3 win against CSU's Colton Buffington at the No. 3 flight. The junior has now won three-straight matches and is 5-3 after splitting time between the No. 2 and 3 flight this spring.

Valparaiso is 14-5 overall and has yet to play a League opponent. The Crusaders have won each of their last four matches and are undefeated at 9-0 at home. Valpo's No. 1 singles player, Jeffrey Schorsch has a team-best 12-2 record this spring. Charlie Emhardt has won eight of his last nine matches at No. 3 and 4 singles.

UIC is 7-7 overall and opens Horizon League play against the Norse on Sunday. Top-flight singles player Carl Hedstrom is 6-8 in dual matches while Marcelo Dib has a team-best eight wins split between No. 4, 5 and 6 singles. As a doubles team, Hestrom and Dib have a 7-5 overall record.

Following the pair of matches, NKU returns home to host four of its final five matches this season. A Thursday, April 7 matchup against Tiffin is up next for the Norse at 1 p.m. at Joyce Yeager Tennis Complex.