Sept. 12, 2008
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina head men’s tennis coach Kent DeMars today announced his 2008-09 schedule, which includes 17 home events among 24 dual matches. The challenging lineup features 11 teams that participated in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, nine of which are fellow Southeastern Conference members, including two-time defending National Champion, Georgia.
The Gamecocks play four tournaments in the fall beginning with the South Carolina Fall Invitational in Columbia on Fri., Oct. 3. South Carolina then goes on the road for the Las Vegas Classic (Oct. 10) and to Georgia for the Bulldog Scramble (Nov. 7). Carolina finishes off the fall schedule at the Auburn Fall Classic Nov. 21-23.
Following a two-month layoff, the Gamecocks start their spring slate with three home matches. South Carolina plays a doubleheader against Wofford and Troy on Jan. 17 beginning at 10 a.m. Another home tilt against Georgia Tech on Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. sets up the Gamecocks’ second of three trips to Athens, Ga., where they will participate in the ITA Kickoff, facing Georgia on Jan. 30 and either Washington or Indiana, both of whom participated in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, on Jan. 31.
A stretch of eight home matches leads South Carolina into Southeastern Conference play. The homestand begins on Feb. 7 with matches against Davidson and Charlotte at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. Following a Valentine’s Day matchup with Elon, the Gamecocks welcome North Carolina State for a 2 p.m. contest on Feb. 20. Charleston Southern and Appalachian State are slated to visit on Feb. 28, and Carolina opens SEC play on Mar. 6 with a 2 p.m. matchup with Vanderbilt. Kentucky closes out the homestand on Mar. 8 in a 1 p.m. contest.
Following road trips to Tennessee (Mar. 13) and Georgia (Mar. 15), the Gamecocks step out of conference to face a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference teams. Wake Forest visits on Mar. 25, and archrival Clemson comes to town on Mar. 27. The Gamecocks host Mississippi State on Mar. 29, and a trip to Mississippi breaks up the series of five home matches. Carolina hosts Arkansas (Apr. 3) and LSU (Apr. 5) before heading to Auburn (Apr. 10) and Alabama (Apr. 12). The Gamecocks close the regular season at home against Florida on Apr. 18 before heading to the SEC Championship, hosted by Auburn, April 23-26.
