SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — The Lake Superior State men's tennis team begins Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play this weekend as the Lakers face three conference opponents. 

Lake Superior State plays at Northwood on Friday at noon, before coming home to face Grand Valley State on Saturday at 10 a.m. EDT and Ferris State on Sunday at 10 a.m. EDT.

The Lakers finished their five-match road trip with a 3-2 record. Pacing the Lakers, were sophomore, Diego Penz finishing out the road trip with a 3-2 record at No. 5 singles and No. 2 doubles. Penz doubles' partner, Luis Valderrama finished with a 3-2 record at No. 2 doubles, while finishing with a 2-3 record at No. 4 singles on the trip. 

On Friday, the Lakers travel to Midland, Michigan to face Northwood University. The Timberwolves finished last season ranked No. 2 before the conference tournament with a 16-5 (6-2 GLIAC) record, but faced a setback in the conference tournament by placing third after beating Davenport in the third-place match. Northwood returns last year's Second Team All-GLIAC player, David Reinaurer a senior from Germany, and All-GLIAC Honorable Mention, Francois Sauerman, a junior from South Africa. Last season, the Lakers lost to Northwood 5-4. 

Following their match with Northwood, the Lakers travel back home to face Grand Valley State on Saturday at 10 a.m. EDT. Grand Valley State finished at No. 4 in the regular season last year, before beating Tiffin in the fifth-place match of the conference tournament. GVSU's record last season was 15-9 (6-2 GLIAC). GVSU returns First Team All-GLIAC player, senior Sebastien Lescoulie, and junior Jack Geissler. Last year, Lake Superior State lost to Grand Valley State 8-1. 

Ferris State comes into town on Sunday to play at 10 a.m. EST. The Bulldogs are the GLIAC's reigning regular season and tournament champions. They had a record of 21-3 (8-0 GLIAC) last season and reached the final of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional where they lost to Drury 5-2. Ferris State returns senior Stew Sell — a First Team All-GLIAC player last season. Ferris State also returns junior Pablo Munoz Baroja, who was named Second Team All-GLIAC last season, and sophomore Austin Debruyne, who was an All-GLIAC Honorable Mention. The Lakers lost to the Bulldogs 9-0 in their meeting last season. 

All home games are played at the Arbuckle Student Activity Center at 10 a.m., with admission free of charge. 

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