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Penn sophomore Michelle Yeh and the Quakers look to hold of Yale and Brown this weekend in Levy Tennis Pavilion. Penn is undefeated in Ivy play this year and will face another unbeaten team in Harvard next week. [Abby Stanglin/DP File Photo]

This weekend the women's tennis team looks to move two steps closer to its goal of winning the Ivy League title for its third consecutive year.

However, two strong opponents stand in their way. Before dreams of another title can be realized, Penn will have to overcome Brown and Yale.

"If we can get through this weekend, we're looking good for the three-peat," freshman Caroline Stanislawski said. "But we're taking each game as it comes for now."

Today the Red and Blue take on the Brown Bears at Levy Tennis Pavilion, while the very next day the Quakers look to defeat Yale.

This weekend's play comes after a win over Princeton (6-1) last Saturday, which kept the Quakers' five-match winning streak alive.

Penn (12-4, 3-0 Ivy) is currently ranked No. 39 and will first take on No.68 Brown (11-6, 1-0).

The Bears' most recent loss was to No.18 Harvard this past Saturday. Penn must face the Crimson in its last match of the season in Cambridge, Mass.

Undoubtedly, the Bears will be looking to end their losing streak on Friday against the Quakers.

However, looking at both Penn and Brown's results, Penn seems to be the favored team.

The Bears lost to both Old Dominion and Temple 4-3 each, while Penn defeated the same teams 6-1 each.

Tomorrow's opponent should prove to be the larger challenge when Penn takes on the Elis, who have a 9-1 record so far.

"Brown and Yale will be tough matches," junior Sanela Kunovac said. "Yale may be tougher, but it's hard to say. You never know how things can swing -- it can go either way.

"We're trying to be sharp and not lose our focus. The spirit of the Ivy season makes teams rise up to the occasion and underdogs can win easily with the added adrenaline and atmosphere."

"I'm really excited for this weekend," Stanislawski said.

Although these important matches fall on the same weekend as Spring Fling, the Quakers hope that their fans will show up and support them, despite the chance that some of the fans may be in state of greater excitement -- or intoxication -- than usual.

"We hope that everyone will come out and support us this weekend, even if it means that they're inebriated," Stanislawski said. "It'll be an exciting weekend and we'd like a lot of fans to cheer us on."

"We would love to have fans -- anything short of throwing things on the court is welcome," Kunovac added.

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