MONTGOMERY – The Alabama State University tennis teams are both coming off record seasons and Head Coach Anuk Christiansz released a highly-competitive schedule as the Hornets continue to build a championship program.
“Well the most important thing is for us to play a schedule that will push us to improve as the season goes along,” Christiansz said. “We are now in our third year and some of our players could have a breakthrough year. I’m looking forward to an exciting season filled with exciting matches we have been able to put together.”
The men will begin their season on Jan. 17 when they travel to Starkville, Miss., to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference.
“This is an incredible start for both the men and women to be able to go to Mississippi State,” Chrisiansz said. “I think last year we went over there and were competing in the doubles and it came down to the fact they were more experienced than we were, but for our teams it showed them they could compete at that level against a top-20 team. So it is going to be a great start for both teams.”
The Hornets will continue the road swing with games at Georgia Southwestern (Jan. 25) and South Alabama (Feb. 1) before facing Southern Mississippi (Feb. 7) at a neutral site in Troy, Ala.
ASU has 11 home matches scheduled for the 2015 season and will begin a three-game home stretch against North Alabama (Feb. 13), Mercer (Feb. 15) and Jacksonville state (Feb. 20).
The first of two SWAC Round Ups will be played Feb. 27-29 in Jackson, Miss., with that schedule being released at a later date.
Following the Round Up ASU will be back home to hosting seven consecutive home matches. Columbus State (March 6) starts the home stand followed by South Dakota State (March 11), Troy (March 13), Kennesaw State (March 14), Chattanooga (March 19), Indiana University Southeast (March 21) and Alabama-Huntsville (March 23).
The second of the SWAC Round Ups will be played March 27-29, with this one being held in Houston, Texas. Again, the round up schedule will be released later.
ASU will host Alabama A&M on April 4 as a final tune up for the SWAC Tournament, which will be held April 10-12 in New Orleans, La.
The women will begin their season a day later than the men, but will begin play at the same site, against Mississippi State University on Jan. 18.
Another road date is scheduled for Georgia Southern (Jan. 25) before opening the home portion of the 2015 schedule hosting Troy (Jan. 30).
Following another road match at South Alabama (Feb. 1) the Lady Hornets will return home for four consecutive matches beginning with Oral Roberts (Feb. 6), followed by North Alabama (Feb. 13), Mercer (Feb. 15) and Jacksonville State (Feb. 20).
Like the men’s team, the ladies will play in Jackson, Miss., for the first of two SWAC Round Ups. The dates are the same, Feb. 27-29.
The Lady Hornets will host another three consecutive matches following the round up as Columbus State (March 6), South Dakota State (March 11) and Alabama-Huntsville (March 23) visit Montgomery.
March 27-29 ASU will travel to Houston for the second SWAC Round Up, and will come home with the regular season finale hosting Alabama A&M on April 4.
The women’s SWAC Tournament will be held in conjunction with the men’s tournament in New Orleans April 10-12.
