EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's tennis team opens its 2005 home schedule by hosting Grand Valley State University at Advantage Court & Fitness Saturday evening. Start time is 6 p.m.

The Screaming Eagles are 1-3 in 2004-05 after starting the spring with a 4-3 loss to Austin Peay State University on February 4. GVSU, which is the first NCAA Division II opponent of the year for the Eagles, is 4-1 in this year's campaign.

Sophomore Joe Epkey (Greenwood, Indiana) leads the Eagles as the number one singles player. The ITA Division II finalist last fall is 14-3 already this year and has combined with his brother, Jarod(Greenwood, Indiana), to post a 17-1 number one doubles mark.

Jarod Epkey follows his brother in the singles line-up at number two and has an 8-4 record in his first year as a collegiate.

USI's number three singles player is senior Nim Shetty (India), who has a 9-5 record in singles and has combined with junior Ryan Hughes (England) for an 8-5 number two doubles record. Hughes, at number four singles, is 6-7.

The bottom half of the USI line-up is filled by senior Evan Luttrell (Logansport, Indiana) and freshman Andrew McGuire (Greenwood, Indiana). Luttrell, who will fill the fifth singles slot, is 1-4 overall this season, while McGuire, who is in the sixth slot of the singles line-up, is 2-5 as a collegiate.

The Eagles are scheduled to play their first match at the USI Tennis Courts on March 15 when they host DePauw University for a non-conference match. USI opens the GLVC schedule on March 25 when it hosts the University of Indianapolis.

Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information