HOUSTON—On the heels of two straight wins and victories in three of its last four matches, the Northwestern State tennis team will play its final pre-conference matches this weekend, facing Connecticut and Houston Saturday in a doubleheader.

NSU (3-4) will face Connecticut (5-4 after Friday's match against UH) on Saturday at 10 a.m. for the first time in Lady Demon tennis history. Following at 2 Saturday afternoon will be a match against Houston (9-1).

The Lady Demons will use the challenges as preparation for upcoming Southland Conference play. These matches will begin at home on March 2 against Sam Houston State at 1 p.m.

"We want to do things right and do things well to get in a good rhythm heading into the Southland Conference," head coach Patric DuBois said. 

NSU and Houston will reunite after a six-season schedule absence. In the past three meetings with UH, the Lady Demons almost pulled off a sweep, dominating in the first two contests (2010, W 6-1; 2011, W 6-1; 2012, L 4-3).

It's a much improved Cougars program that will host Saturday's matches, which were moved to a doubleheader due to a daunting weather forecast for rain Sunday.

"Houston is very strong this year," said DuBois. "They've played impressive teams, and their record is pretty solid. They're not nationally ranked right now, but they will be. We hope to play well this weekend."

Recent challenges with inclement weather have forced schedule readjustments and creative ways for the Lady Demons to practice.

However, NSU has not allowed mother nature to hinder its work ethic.

"We're practicing hard, supporting each other and pushing each other," sophomore Judit Castillo said. "We're making each other better on and off the court, and we're going to come out and fight like always."

Both matches Saturday will be played at the Barbara Wallace Winston Tennis Facility in Houston. Live stats are available for the NSU-UH contest.