KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan women's tennis team trains its focus on the Mid-American Conference this weekend with the beginning of the eight-match league slate. The Broncos (8-8) begin with five in a row on the road before wrapping up MAC play with three in a row at home leading into the 2010 MAC Tournament in Kalamazoo.

The Broncos start MAC play on Friday at defending regular season and tournament champion Miami (7-5) at 1 p.m. in Oxford, Ohio. The RedHawks were picked to finish second in the MAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll, while WMU was picked to finish third. Both teams have four common opponents in Indiana, Wisconsin, Detroit and Marquette. Both lost to Indiana and Wisconsin and beat Detroit. The Broncos defeated Marquette, while the RedHawks fell to the Golden Eagles.

WMU lost in the regular season in Kalamazoo, 4-3, and in the championship of the MAC Tournament, 4-0, to Miami last season, but lead the all-time series, 17-15.

WMU turns around and travels to Muncie, Ind., on Saturday to play Ball State (6-7) at 1 p.m. The Cardinals started the season 4-1, but have faltered of late with back-to-back losses to NCAA Division III DePauw, 5-4, and Saint Louis, 7-0. BSU hosts Bowling Green on Friday in its MAC opener after being picked to finish last in the preseason poll. The Broncos won, 7-0, last season in Kalamazoo and are 30-3 all-time in the series.

The Broncos are coming off a road split in Texas with a victory over Sam Houston State, 4-3, and loss to No. 44 Rice, 7-0. WMU has played a tough schedule with losses to seven teams currently in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association national rankings.

WMU is led in singles by the trio of freshman Maggie Remynse, sophomore Maria Nivia and junior Amanda Moccia with 12 wins each. Nivia won the clinching match against Sam Houston State with the score knotted at three. In doubles, senior Yumi Matsuto leads the team with a 13-10 record.