By Brian Peloza
Staff Writer

Bringing a high amount of energy while building on its previous win against Michigan will be the objectives of the Purdue women's tennis team this weekend.

The Boilers will travel to play Ohio State on Saturday and Penn State on Sunday.

Ohio State (12-6, 5-1 Big Ten) is tied for second in the Big Ten while Penn State (7-6, 0-6) is at the bottom of the standings.

Purdue assistant coach Chris Karges-Iandolo said the Boilers (9-10, 3-4) are feeling confident they can pull an upset of Ohio State.

"We feel great coming off the Michigan win," said Karges-Iandolo. "If we stay focused, we can come through with the win."

Being the underdog and playing on the road are two reasons Karges-Iandolo thinks the Boilers will be able to play loose against Ohio State.

"We are going to try to match the level of energy and intensity from the Michigan match," said Karges-Iandolo.

This weekend is not only important on a team level but also for individuals hoping to make the NCAA championships.

The No. 1 doubles team of seniors Jennifer Embry and Shannon Taheny are two players hoping for a bid. Karges-Iandolo said their chances of getting a bid are looking good.

In singles competition, Embry will be looking to help secure a bid this weekend. She will have to win two, or possibly all three, of her last matches to secure a bid, according to Karges-Iandolo.

Against Ohio State, Embry will be placed against Kristy Dascoli, who is ranked 32nd in the nation. Dascoli defeated Embry last year in a 5-2 Ohio State victory.

Karges-Iandolo said Embry is going to look to change the pace and play aggressively in her match against Dascoli.

"To earn a singles bid to the NCAAs, you need to be one of the top four players in your region," Karges-Iandolo said. "Embry is right around the third or fourth slot right now."

She also said Dascoli is probably about second in the region, which makes this weekend's match that much more important.