KALAMAZOO, Mich. – For the first time in program history, the Western Michigan women's tennis team hosts Arizona at West Hills Athletic Club on Thursday at 12 p.m. before heading on the road to Indiana for a double-header against the Hoosiers and Bellarmine at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
 
Admission is free and spectators must wear masks.
 
FIRST SERVE
Western Michigan Direct of Athletics Dan Bartholomae will be taking the first serve prior to the start of Thursday's match. Bartholomae joined Western Michigan Athletics at the beginning of January, taking over for long-time Director of Athletics Kathy Beauregard, who retired in December.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos were set to host Oakland and Valparaiso last Saturday and Sunday but the matches were postponed. The match against VALPO has been rescheduled for Friday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. at West Hills Athletic Club.
 
WMU was last in action on the road at Cleveland State for a double-header against the Vikings and St. Bonaventure. WMU opened Saturday with a 5-2 loss to CSU but rebounded for a 7-0 win over the Bonnies. In the win, the Broncos did not lose a single set.
 
HOT START
Sophomore Karin Hamilton is off to a hot start in WMU's dual match season. The Calgary, Alberta, native has a team-best four wins with a 4-1 record in singles play. Hamilton's lone loss came against No. 12 Michigan. Hamilton is 1-0 at No. 2 and 3-1 at No. 3 so far this season.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Arizona is off to a 3-0 start with wins over UTEP, New Mexico Stat and San Diego State. The Wildcats visit Michigan State before coming to Kalamazoo.
 
Through their three wins, UA has only dropped two points, both in singles play. Kalya Wilkins has played at No. 1 for all three matches with a 2-1 record. Salma Ziouti is 3-0 as the team's No. 2, while Lexi Ryngier is 3-0 with a 2-0 record at No. 3 and 1-0 at No. 4. Parker Fry and Kayla Wilkins have the top doubles record in dual matches at 2-0.  
 
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
Indiana has a 2-1 record in dual matches and plays Butler on Wednesday before Saturday's clash with the Broncos. After dropping its opener against Utah, IU has rattled two straight wins against Yale and Marquette.
 
Lara Schneider and Alexandra Staiculescu both have 3-0 records in singles play so far in the dual match season. The duos Schneider and Laura Masic and Rose Hu and Lexi Kubas are both 1-1 in doubles play.
 
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Bellarmine is 0-4 so far in dual matches with losses to Western Kentucky, IUPUI, Marshall and Murray State. The Knights had two matches against Western Illinois and Northern Illinois canceled.
 
Ekaterina Tikhonko is 2-2 and has the best record in singles play during the dual season, while Tikhonko and Channing Varnum are 1-1 in doubles play.
 
ON THE HORIZON
The Broncos are back in action at home on Saturday, Feb. 19 hosting Butler at 1 p.m. and then welcome Milwuakee on Sunday at 11 a.m.