The ISU tennis team hopes to build on recent success when it hosts the Creighton Bluejays this Friday at the Ames Racquet and Fitness Center, 320 S. 17th Street.

Both teams are trying to start winning streaks coming off big wins over nonconference opponents. Creighton (1-1) upended the University of Missouri-Kansas City, 7-0, while the Cyclones (1-1) handled the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay by the same lopsided score.

This is the second Missouri Valley Conference opponent Iowa State has competed against this spring, having defeated the Northern Iowa Panthers in the Hawkeye Invitational earlier this season. Although the Cyclones won all their matches against the Panthers, the competition was fierce.

Coach Michele Conlon expects a similar effort out of Creighton.

“They’re going to be feisty,” Conlon said. “They’re going to work really hard. We need to come in very well prepared to play them because they don’t have the type of players that will just lay down. They are a good team from a good conference.”

Creighton freshman Tess Reddin was the Missouri Valley Conference female athlete of the week after not giving up a game playing at the No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles slot. She went 20-0, including an 8-0 win with doubles partner Katie Chiu. Iowa State’s doubles duo of Eve Soriano and Kara Hickey hope to end that streak and continue one of their own. Soriano and Hickey are undefeated, sitting at 4-0 on the season.

The Cyclones look forward to the chance to string together back-to-back victories for the first time since early March 2006, when they had wins against Illinois-Chicago and Drake.

“I think we’re pretty excited to play most nonconference matches,” junior Chrissy Derouin said. “I think we’re eager to get another win this weekend. I don’t know how much people look at these kind of statistics but we’re from a tougher conference [Big 12] and most people would expect us to win.”

Creighton’s first match of the year was at Nebraska. The Big 12 North team put the hurt on the Bluejays, shutting them out 7-0. Creighton was unable to take a set from the Cornhuskers and were rarely competitive.

The Cyclones will enjoy almost no reprieve however, as they face MIAC opponent Gustavus Adolphus Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Golden Gusties enjoy a No. 13 preseason team ranking in Division III women’s tennis and hope to knock off Division I Iowa State to improve their resume.

Action will start at 4 p.m. Friday at Ames Racquet and Fitness Center. Admission is free and fans are encouraged.