SPOKANE, Wash. – Men's tennis will be across the country next week as they prepare for a four-game slate of matches in sunny Orlando.

Check the men's tennis scheduling page for live updates and scores.

The Pirates: Whitworth (3-7, 2-2 NWC) should enter a full week in Florida fresh, having played just one match (an exhibition against Bellevue CC) in 15 days. The Pirates have split their conference games so far, beating Linfield and Puget Sound 5-4 and 7-2, while losing to Whitman and Lewis & Clark 7-2.

The Pirates have struggled to find traction in the #1 spot, Payton Romey and Ethan Warring are a combined 0-10 there, Nathan Tjelle is 4-2 in the #2 spot. In doubles, Tjelle and Henry Preacher have looked good posting a 4-2 record as the top duo. Whitworth is looking to get back to the Northwest Conference tournament for the first time since 2016, they're currently in a three-way tie with Linfield and Lewis & Clark for that final spot.

The Opponents: Union (1-3, 1-0 LL) has just begun its season, but they've lost three straight matches heading into the week (Whitworth will be its fourth match in Florida). The Dutchmen have been led by a trio of Solen Bellemare, Dimitris Binopoulos, and Ben Jacobs who've combined for a 1-6 record in the top two slots. Binopoulos and Jacobs are 4-6 as the top duo. Union is coached by Brian Bowman who's in his ninth season in charge of the program. Whitworth and Union will meet for the first time in program history on March 25.

Augustana (8-4, 0-1 CCIW) has lost two straight coming into the week, including its conference opener against Carthage. Arthur Hermange is the Vikings #1, he's 9-0 in singles this season. David Larraga has teamed up with Hermange to form the Vikings top duo, the pair are 10-3 in doubles. The Vikings are coached by David Desimone who also coaches the women's team, Desimone is in his third season. Whitworth and Augustana will meet for the first time in program history on March 26.

DePauw (4-5) will close its week in Florida against the Pirates before returning for its conference opener. Samuele Pia and Finley Buelte are the #1 and #2 for the Tigers, they've combined for a 1-11 record this season, Ryan McCook joins Buelte in the top doubles spot where the two are 6-6.

St. Olaf (2-5, 1-3 MIAC) comes into the week having lost five of six, the Oles will look to Bogdan Vizoli to help turn it around, he's 5-2 in the #1 singles spot. Marjan Veldic is 4-3 in the #2 spot, and the pair are 5-4 as the Oles top doubles team. St. Olaf is coached by Joey Kronzer who also coaches the women's team, this will be the first ever meeting between Whitworth and St. Olaf.

Looking ahead: Whitworth will return from Florida to a run of three important Northwest Conference matches, taking on Pacific, George Fox and Willamette on April 5-7.