Feb. 29, 2008

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette University women's tennis squad will host Rutgers and UW-Green Bay in doubleheader action Saturday at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. respectively. The matches will be held in Milwaukee, Wis. at the Helfaer Tennis Center on the campus of Marquette University.

The Golden Eagles (4-7, 1-0 BIG EAST) will first face Rutgers University in a BIG EAST showdown. Last season, MU captured two victories against the Scarlet Knights: a regular-season 5-2 victory in Piscataway, N.J., and again in the BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinals, coming away with a 4-0 win.

MU will face a Rutgers squad that finished 14-10 last season under head coach Ben Bucca. The Scarlet Knights (7-1, 2-0 BIG EAST) are led by three-time recipient of the team's Most Valuable Player award in senior Katrina Elder-Bush. Elder-Bush has combined with sophomore Christine Tran to earn six doubles wins. The duo has fallen just once in match play this season. On the singles side, both freshmen Amy Zhang (7-0) and Polina Zarester (6-0) boast unblemished records. In four of Rutgers' wins, the Scarlet Knights have swept their opponents 7-0 each match.

Following the match against Rutgers, the Golden Eagles will face intrastate foe UW-Green Bay of the Horizon League. In seven matches, the Phoenix (0-7) have won just one of a possible 49 points. The lone victor for UW-Green Bay was No. 3 singles sophomore Lauryn Grimando against IPFW in early February. In last season's campaign, Marquette easily handled the Phoenix, winning 7-0 in Milwaukee.

The Golden Eagles enter the doubleheader having won their last three matches. On the doubles side, the team is paced by the No. 1 duo of senior Maria Calbeto and freshman Christina Ruiz. The pair enters Saturday with four straight victories. Calbeto's doubles dominance has transferred to her singles game, where she has notched three consecutive wins at the No. 1 singles position. Also on the singles side, freshman Rachael Hush boasts an even record at 9-9, including 5-2 in dual action.