Utica, NY – The Utica College women's tennis team returns home for a pair of games this weekend as the Pioneers host Houghton College Saturday (1 p.m.) and SUNY Plattsburgh on Sunday (10 a.m.).

Off to a Hot Start: The Pioneers opened the season with three wins in their first six matches this Fall and they currently hold a 3-6 overall record and a 1-5 mark in Empire 8 play … Utica is 2-2 at home this season and earned a thrilling 5-4 victory over Elmira, a match that started outside on the tennis courts but finished at the indoor courts due to darkness back on September 9^th … The Pioneers have also picked up wins over SUNY Delhi and Wells College.

Zhang Leads the Way: Lulu Zhang (Wenzhou, China /Newcomers) is currently 5-3 overall and 3-3 in Empire 8 Conference action at fifth singles this season … She also holds a 3-5 record at third doubles alongside her partner Gabriella Morreale (Utica, NY/T.R Proctor) … Zhang recently had a four match win streak snapped at Stevens in fifth singles … The streak included a thrilling three set victory over Hartwick's Caitlin O'Brien.

Filling Up the Win Column: Utica's Shannon Fillmore (Somerset, NJ/Franklin ) has three victories at sixth singles this season … She won three of her first five matches to start the season … She looks to snap a three match skid this weekend.

First Singles: Utica's Julianne Pieros (Alpha, NJ/Phillipsburg) is currently 2-7 at first singles for the Pioneers and she also has a 2-5 record in doubles, teaming up with Monica Johnson (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), Sara Gribanoff (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Shannon Fillmore (Somerset, NJ/Franklin ).

Fitzpatrick Cleaning Up: Senior Anastasia Fitzpatrick (Parksville, NY/Liberty) has a 3-5 record at fourth singles, including the match clinching win over Elmira College … Fitzpatrick and Sara Gribanoff (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) have teamed up and are currently 3-4 at second doubles … Gribanoff also has a 2-7 record at second singles this season.

Meet Houghton: The Highlanders currently hold a 3-5 overall record and a 1-5 mark in Empire 8 Conference play … Their lone conference victory came against Elmira College … The Highlanders are led by Caroline Phillips, who has two victories at first singles this season, and Jacquelyn Lewis, who has a 3-2 record at fourth singles. 

Meet Plattsburgh: The Cardinals are currently riding the highs of a three game winning streak and hold a 6-3 overall record … Kaitlyn Healy boasts a 3-5 ledger at first singles and a 5-3 record when teaming up with Kelci Henn at first doubles … Henn has a 4-4 record at second singles this season.

Winding Down: After this weekend the Pioneers have two more matches left on the regular season docket … Utica will travel to Alfred University to wrap up Empire 8 Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 8^th at 1 p.m. … The Pioneers will then host The Sage Colleges on Saturday, Oct. 15^th at 1 p.m. to cap the regular season schedule.