May 3, 2006

Chicago, Ill.- For the fourth time in six years the UIC women's tennis team will travel north to Evanston to battle Northwestern in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Championships, the Division I tennis committee announced on Wednesday night.

UIC (13-10, 10-0 Horizon League) will face off with the No. 11 Wildcats (21-4, 13-0 Big Ten) at the Vandy Christie Tennis Center on Friday, May 12th at a time to be determined.

The Flames received an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament after claiming their unprecedented 10th consecutive Horizon League Championship on April 23rd.

UIC has now earned eight straight NCAA bids.

Northwestern won their eighth straight Big Ten Championship this past Sunday.

UIC and Northwestern have faced each other in the first round of the NCAA Tournament three previous times, the last coming in 2004.

The winner of the UIC/Northwestern match will face the winner of the Purdue/Harvard match in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Vandy Christie Tennis Center on Saturday, May 13th.