KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The No. 31-ranked Western Michigan men's tennis team prepares for a busy three-match weekend ahead as the Broncos travel to Valparaiso on Friday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. (EST) before hosting a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 25 inside West Hills. First serves for Sunday are set for 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Admission to all home tennis matches is free.

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Western Michigan was recently tabbed as No. 31 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, its highest ranking in program history. Last weekend, the Broncos defeated William & Mary 6-1 at home before the No. 13-ranked Michigan Wolverines snapped their five-match winning streak. The Brown & Gold are now 8-2 overall and 5-0 at home.

The Crusaders are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Tribe and carry a 2-5 overall record while the Flyers have won their last eight matches, including the last three victories by a score of 7-0. NCAA Division II Ferris State comes into Sunday's night cap having played just four matches, boasting a 3-1 record.

Back-to-back Mid-American Conference Singles Player of the Week Maik Steiner moved up eight spots in the latest ITA Singles Rankings as the German is now ranked 88th nationally. The senior has been the No. 1 player for the Broncos this spring and is riding a three-match win streak, coming in at 18-6 overall and 5-2 this spring. Sophomore Jannik Opitz follows behind with a 16-7 record while junior Matej Svjetlicic leads the Brown & Gold in dual match play with a 9-1 record coming mostly at No. 4 & 6.

In doubles, the duo of Eric Olivarez and Nick Schnobel lead the team in wins with a 10-4 overall record and are 4-1 at No. 2 this spring. Billy Heckman and Kennosuke Nouchi are second on the team with a 3-2 record in dual matches and a 7-5 overall record together.

Including this weekend, the Broncos have just five matches in nonconference season before beginning the Mid-American Conference season. WMU was tabbed to win the regular-season in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll back on Jan. 17 after finishing second in the conference and falling in the tournament championship to Buffalo in a 4-3 nail-biter last season.  

Western Michigan hits the road during spring break playing at Penn State on March 2 and at Princeton on March 4 before beginning conference play at Toledo on March 16.