TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State women's tennis will make its longest road trip of the season this week, facing Nebraska-Kearney on Friday and Fort Hays State the following day.

The RiverHawks (4-7) have opened Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) play with two straight wins and are aiming for their first 3-0 start in conference action since 2018.

Tegan Heaton has climbed to No. 57 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national singles rankings this spring, riding a three-match win streak at the No. 1 position. Annika Kleinhans has won five of her last eight matches and holds a 4-2 record at No. 4 singles.

Nebraska-Kearney will host its first outdoor home match of the season against the RiverHawks on Friday. The Lopers (13-4, 3-1 MIAA) have not played outdoors since March 29, when they edged Northwest Missouri 4-3 on the road.

Fort Hays State, off to its best start in a decade, enters the week at 11-5 overall and 1-3 in MIAA play but has dropped its last two matches.