WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 29th-ranked Purdue women's tennis team will hit the road for a non-conference collision and a B1G in Lincoln, Neb. On Saturday, the Boilermakers (5-2, 1-0 B1G) face off against Georgia State (7-5) at 12 p.m. ET in a neutral setting at the Lincoln Racquet Club. The following day the Old Gold & Black will take on No. 53 Nebraska (10-1) in the Huskers' first conference dual match. First serves Sunday from the Nebraska Tennis Center are scheduled for 11 a.m.
Purdue is looking to extend its three-match winning streak after downing Iowa, 5-2, in its B1G opener on Feb. 28. For the fourth time this season, the Old Gold & Black claimed the doubles point. At No. 2, the duo of Lynda Xepoleas and Natalia Davila won their third straight, followed by the 24th-ranked pair of Daniela Vidal and Tess Bernard-Feigenbaum at No. 1. Vidal and Bernard-Feigenbaum lead the team in doubles wins at 9-2 and have won their last four matches together.
Not only is Xepoleas riding a doubles winning streak, she has finished on top in her last six matches dating back to Jan. 18. Four of the Huntington Beach, Calif., native's wins during the streak have been in straight sets.
Xepoleas (7-1) is one of a trio of Boilermakers that have team-best seven singles victories. Senior counterpart Vidal sports a 7-3 record and Bernard-Feigenbaum is 7-2.
Georgia State enters a Friday matchup against the Huskers following a 5-2 loss to then-No. 28 William & Mary on March 1. In the loss, the Panthers captured the doubles point, but were only able to take one singles match courtesy of Linn Timmermann at No. 3. Timmermann and doubles partner Tarani Kamoe, who are ranked 40th, were upended by the nation's No. 48 duo to slip to 5-4 at the top spot for Georgia State.
The Panthers own a 3-2 record against nationally ranked opponents, with wins over Nos. 67, 67 and 61. Other than William & Mary, Nebraska and Purdue are the highest-ranked teams they have met this season.
After starting the season 10-0, the Huskers were dealt their first loss of the season in their last outing, a 4-0 blanking from No. 23 Wichita State on March 1. It was only their second meeting with a nationally ranked squad. Two days prior Nebraska dominated in a 6-1 upset of then-No. 51 Denver.
Unlike the competition coming in, the Huskers do not have a tandem or singles player in the ITA rankings. Their No. 1 duo of Izabella Zgierska and Mary Hanna are undefeated at 8-0. Nebraska has combined for a 23-10 doubles spring mark with nine different pairs playing together. No. 4 singles player Spurti Shivalingaiah has completed her match in all 11 duals and carries a 10-1 record.
The Boilermakers are seeking their second win in as many meetings with Georgia State. Last year in West Lafayette, Purdue made easy work of the Panthers, 5-2.
It's been a see-saw battle with the Huskers with lopsided results. The Old Gold & Black took a 6-1 victory last season and a 4-2 battle during the 2012 B1G Tournament. Playing in Lincoln for the first time in 2013, Nebraska dealt Purdue a 6-1 setback and registered a 5-2 victory in the first-ever meeting during the 2012 regular season.