ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings men's tennis team will open up CCIW action on Saturday, March 16 when they host the Carthage Firebirds. The team will also take on the Roosevelt Lakers in a non-conference match on Saturday afternoon.

Augie is currently 8-2 on the season and is riding a six-match winning streak that dates back to February 4. The team returns to action after winning a pair of contests on March 2 over Coe and Cornell. Against Coe, Timothee Philip and Gabriel Luna began the day with an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles, followed by Arthur Hermange and David Larraga winning at No.1 by the same score. Saman Rezaeyan and Nicolas Navarro earned the victory at No. 3 to give the Vikings a 3-0 advantage heading into singles.

In singles, five of the six matches went in Augie's favor, starting with Navarro's 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 6. Philip was close behind with a victory at No. 5 to clinch the team win for Augie, while Larraga continued the streak with a victory at No. 2. Rezaeyan and Hermange each won their respective matches at No. 4 and 1 to help complete he 8-1 final score. The Vikings then closed the day with a sweep of the Rams on the road. 

Carthage enters the weekend with an 11-2 overall record. The Firebirds recently saw a five-match winning streak come to an end with a 9-0 loss to No. 20 RPI in Florida, but bounced back with an 8-1 victory over Calvin later that day. Carthage is 3-1 in road contests this season, with the lone loss coming in their other defeat against No. 25 UW-Whitewater. Carthage will face No. 36 Grinnell on Friday in Rock Island before taking on the Vikings on Saturday.

The Firebirds hold a slight 32-31 advantage over the Vikings in the all-time series and have won the last two. Carthage narrowly took last year's meeting in Kenosha by a score of 5-4. Since 2014, the two teams have squared off 14 times, each winning seven.

Start time is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

Augie will then take on Roosevelt at 2 p.m., who enter with a 5-3 overall record. The Lakers recently saw their three-match winning streak come to an end in a 7-0 loss to Bethel on Wednesday. All eight contests this season have come on the road for Roosevelt.

Saturday will be the first-ever meeting between the Vikings and Lakers.