HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky's women's tennis returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 18, when the team hosts cross-river foe Xavier at Five Seasons Sport Club in Crestview Hills, Kentucky. First serve against the Musketeers is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse have not seen action since Jan. 28, when the team fell to Dayton in a 4-2 decision. Senior Sierra Nellessen was the only Norse to go undefeated in the match, starting with a 6-4 win in No. 2 doubles with Sydney Power before taking down Mandy Marchant in matching 6-3 sets in the No. 6 spot. The Norse also enjoyed a win from Klara Skopac in No. 2 singles with a straight set 7-6, 6-1 win over Alex Townsend.
 
SCOUTING XAVIER: The Musketeers hold just a 1-5 record this season, but have been putting themselves up against some of the nation's toughest competition with four of their first six opponents coming from a Power Five institution, including No. 9 California. Xavier's lone win of the season came against Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 10, with just one point dropped in the 5-1 decision. Xavier's lineup is headlined by the reigning BIG EAST Player of the Year, Sydney Liggins, who is ranked No. 9 in the Ohio Valley Region and went 19-4 last season in the No. 1 spot. Xavier also returns All-BIG EAST honoree Cristina Di Lorenzo for her senior campaign, who is riding a 2-0 winning streak in No. 2 singles after picking up wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State. The team is coming off a historic season, winning the BIG EAST tournament to become the first women's program to win a title since joining the conference in 2013.
 
For more information on NKU's men's and women's tennis program, follow the team on Twitter @NKUNorseTennis or at facebook.com/nkunorsetennis.