CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - After a two-week layoff, the Southeast Missouri women's tennis team returns to action to host Eastern Illinois in its Ohio Valley Conference opener Saturday. Start time is set for 1 p.m., CT, at the Redhawks Tennis Complex.

Southeast, which was picked ninth in this year's OVC Preseason Poll, stands at 2-2 on the year and is back in action after last blanking Alabama A&M, 7-0, on Mar. 2.

Jessica Courtnell currently leads the Redhawks with a perfect 4-0 record in dual singles competition this season. Courtnell notched three of her wins at the No. 4 position. Heather Robinson and Nikole Novikova also enter the weekend on winning streaks. Robinson won three-straight singles bouts at the No. 1 spot, while Novikova posted three in a row at No. 3. As a team, Southeast is 4-0 at the No. 3 position of its singles lineup this season.

In doubles play, the Redhawks have not lost at the No. 1 position this year. Southeast enters the weekend at 4-0 with Novikova having a hand in all of those wins. Novikova teamed up with Elizabeth Nyenwe for one win, and partnered with Robinson for the other three.

Meanwhile, EIU brings a three-match winning streak to Cape. The Panthers, tabbed fifth in the league's predicted order of finish, are 5-2 overall.

EIU is led by Janelle Prisner, who is 4-2 in No. 1 singles, although the three players behind her are also off to strong starts. Sephora Boulbahaiem boasts a 4-1 mark at No. 2, Merritt Whitley is 3-1 at No. 3 and Ali Foster is 4-1 at No. 4. The Panthers own a 14-6 record in doubles play, as well.

Southeast looks to get its first win in an OVC opener since 2007-08. The Redhawks have lost four-straight league-opening matches since that time.