UTICA, NY - The Utica College tennis team prepares for a pair of matches this week as the team travels to Oneonta on Friday for a 4 p.m. start before hosting Sage on Saturday at 1 p.m. 
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers fell in a conference match to Nazareth on Sunday, 9-0. After dropping the first set 7-5 and taking the second set 6-1, Ellen Lyga's (New Hartford, NY/Notre Dame) comeback effort in first singles was denied with a 10-4 loss in the third frame. 
 
Where We Stand: UC holds a 2-3 (0-3 Empire 8) record with six matches remaining in the season, three of which are conference and three non-conference. Utica can control its own E8 playoff destiny with matches against Sage (0-1), Alfred (0-1) and Hartwick (1-1) remaining. Haley Dekin (Castorland, NY) has impressed in singles action, owing a 4-1 record while Ellen Lyga (New Hartford, NY/Notre Dame) and Morgan Willis (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) are each 3-2. Doubles has not treated the Pioneers well midway through the season as the team has an overall 3-12 record in doubles action. 
 
It's Been A While: Utica and Oneonta have not met since facing one another in each season from 2005-07. The Red Dragons won each of those three matches; 6-3 in 2005, 9-0 in 2006 and 9-0 in 2007. 
 
Scouting Oneonta: The Red Dragons enter Friday 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the SUNYAC. Through five matches, Oneonta has outscored opponents 43-2 which includes four matches won in shutout fashion. The only player with a singles loss is Ariel Loucks, 7-5 and 6-3 against Plattsburgh St., and the only doubles loss came during the same match by Brianna Harmon and Loucks, 8-2. 
 
Hello Again: Sage enters the week 0-4 (0-1 Empire 8) and will travel to Mt. St. Mary College for a match prior to facing Utica. The Pioneers defeated the Gators 5-4 earlier this season in what was a non-conference match between the teams. Maddie Cherry carries a 4-0 singles record into the week while her and Taylor Gillespie own a 2-0 record in doubles action. 

What's to Come: After hosting Sage on Saturday, UC will travel for its next three matches, two of which coming against non-conference opponents. The Pioneers will head to Oswego St. on September 29 before traveling to Alfred University on October 1. The team then winds out the week on October 3 against Medaille in Buffalo, NY.