TAHLEQUAH – After a 2-0 weekend to close nonconference play the RiverHawks tennis team travels to Fort Hays State Saturday at 3 p.m. and Nebraska Kearney Sunday at 11 a.m. to open the eight match MIAA campaign.

FIRST SERVE

1. NSU is 4-4 to open the season and is coming off wins over Cameron and Seward CC.
2. The RiverHawks have secured the doubles point in all four of their wins. Most recently, the bottom two flights have claimed it.
3. Maria Popova clinched both wins this past weekend. She is 3-2 playing on the No. 2 singles court.
4. The RiverHawks now have their full roster in Tahlequah after COVID-19 travel restrictions impacted the fall semester.
5. After experimenting with different lineups NSU seems to have found a winning combination by moving Melissa Vera to the No. 4 flight in singles. The RiverHawks are above .500 on three courts; 2, 4, 5.
6. Head coach Tim McLane is in his first season with the RiverHawks. He was hired Dec. 21 following stops at South Carolina Upstate and Mercer.
7. NSU was tabbed fourth in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll. Fort Hays State was voted ninth and Nebraska Kearney sixth.
8. The MIAA season was canceled before the RiverHawks could begin conference play last season. FHSU and UNK were scheduled to make the trip to Tahlequah before COVID-19 aced the sports world.
9. The RiverHawks hold a 7-0 advantage in the series dating back to 2013. In 2019 NSU swept the Tigers. FHSU has opened the season 3-0 in matches with NAIA programs and the match will be its home opener. It did not play over spring break with its last match coming March 15.
10. In 2019, NSU sneaked out of Kearney with a 4-3 victory. UNK is 3-6 this spring and has played five GAC member schools while NSU has met three. The match will serve as the home opener for the Lopers.

UP NEXT: Northeastern State will return to Tahlequah following three weeks on the road to host Northwest Missouri and Washburn on April 2-3. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday versus the Bearcats.