ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western tennis (3-6, 0-2 MIAA) goes on the road for a pair of MIAA road matches this weekend, playing at Arkansas-Fort Smith (2-11, 0-2 MIAA) on Friday and Northeastern State (3-7, 1-0 MIAA) on Saturday.

Friday's match will start at 11:30 a.m. and Saturday's at 1 p.m. Both will be played indoors at the Fort Smith Athletic Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Missouri Western last weekend played three matches at home against Southern Arkansas, Fort Hays State and No. 14 Nebraska-Kearney.

In a rematch of the 2024 MIAA Tournament Championship match this past Sunday, Missouri Western put up a strong fight against No. 14 Nebraska-Kearney (12-3), but ultimately fell 4-3 at Genesis Health Club in St. Joseph.
 
MWSU started the match strong, securing the first doubles point with a 2-1 victory. Elena Rey Garcia and Cristina Granero Boj dominated the No. 1 doubles match, winning 6-1 to give the Griffons their first set victory.

In a thrilling No. 2 doubles match, Celia Castaño Malnero and Johanna Priedite secured the point with a 7-6 victory.
 
Granero Boj lost the first game of No. 1 singles, 6-0, but fought back to win the set, taking game two, 6-3 and game three, 6-1.

Priedite avenged a loss to Narindra Ranaivo in No. 3 singles, winning the set 6-2, 1-6 and 6-4 to secure Western's third point.

However, the UNK came back to take the match with wins in singles No. 2, 4, 5, and 6.

This weekend marks Missouri Western's first meeting with Arkansas-Fort Smith since 2019 and the first as MIAA rivals. The Lions' only wins so far this season have come against Quincy and NAIA Sterling College (Kansas).

Saturday will be the 16^th all-time meeting with Northeastern State. The Griffons lead this series 9-6, and have won each of the last six meetings.

NSU's wins this season have come against NAIA Oklahoma Wesleyan, Henderson State and Arkansas-Fort Smith.