USI Women’s Tennis predicted to finish sixth in OVC play

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Tennis was picked to finish sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference this season after receiving seven votes from the league’s coaches. The Screaming Eagles are competing in NCAA Division I for the first time in program history this season.
 
“We are really excited to get started playing in the OVC in 2023,” says USI Head Coach, Chris Crawford. “The ladies have worked hard since last fall and this winter already and we are preparing for a tough schedule this spring. Our women’s team will be ready to compete and win this season.”
 
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Southeast Missouri State University drew a tie for first after receiving 23 overall votes and three first-place votes each. Eastern Illinois University rang in third with 17 votes while Tennessee State University received 12 votes. Lindenwood University claimed fifth with eight votes while USI tallied seven votes to round out the six teams.
 
USI kicked off the 2022-23 campaign with a big 7-0 victory over Indiana University Southeast to cap off the short fall season. The Eagles also competed in the Redhawk Invitational where junior Lauren Rowe (Terre Haute, Indiana) and junior Rachel McCorkle (Tulsa, Oklahoma) each secured singles wins before pairing up and winning the lone doubles match against Western Illinois University.
 
The Eagles begin the spring season on the road against Murray State University and Cumberland University on January 27 in Murray, Kentucky. USI’s non-conference road schedule follows with Bellarmine University (February 11), Northern Kentucky University (March 3), Xavier University (March 4), IUPUI (March 7), Drury University at a neutral location (March 12), and Western Kentucky University (March 17).
 
USI will host a selection of non-conference matches in 2023 with the home opener slated for February 3 against Western Illinois at Evansville Tennis Center. The Eagles will also face Eastern Kentucky University (February 17), University of Missouri-St. Louis (February 24), Hanover College (February 25), St. Louis University (March 11), and Duquesne University (April 7).
 
The Eagles start OVC play on March 18 when they travel to Charleston, Illinois to face Eastern Illinois. USI also makes the trip to SIUE (April 2) and Tennessee State (April 15).
 
Home conference action starts on March 26 against former GLVC foe, Lindenwood, and finishes with a bout against SEMO (April 7). The USI, SEMO match will be senior day for the Eagles.
 
The OVC Tennis Championships will take place April 21-23 in Paducah, Kentucky.
 
2023 OVC Preseason Women’s Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
T1. SIUE (3 first-place votes) – 23
T1. Southeast Missouri (3 first-place votes) – 23
3. Eastern Illinois – 17
4. Tennessee State – 12
5. Lindenwood – 8
6. Southern Indiana – 7