KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan women's tennis team heads on the road for the first time in Mid-American Conference play, battling Northern Illinois on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. 

LAST WEEK
The Broncos (9-5, 0-1 MAC) dropped its conference opener to the defending regular season champions, Miami, 4-3. WMU held a 3-0 lead after taking the doubles point and the first two singles points, but the RedHawks prevailed in the final four singles matches. 

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Northern Illinois got off to a great start, heading into MAC play with a 14-3 record. The Huskies opened conference action with a 4-3 win at Eastern Michigan but have since dropped two straight. NIU fell to Toledo last Sunday, 4-3, and dropped a home match against Buffalo on Friday, 5-2. 

ROAD TEST
Western Michigan struggled on the road last season, going 2-8. In just 14 matches this season, the Broncos have already surpassed last season's road win total with a 3-3 record so far. The Broncos won 6-1 at Dayton, 5-2 at Cleveland State and 5-2 at Youngstown State. 

The Broncos will be tested in DeKalb. NIU is 9-3 at home and WMU has not won there since 2023. 

ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan is back on the road next Friday at Toledo for a 12 p.m. start. WMU then returns home to host Ball State on Sunday at 12 p.m. Admission is free.