Alabama Women’s Tennis Announces Competitive 2017-18 Schedule
8/10/2017 2:31:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Crimson Tide has five events scheduled for the fall, including a home tournament in late October, and 29 spring dual matches
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama women's tennis released a 2017-18 schedule Thursday that features five fall tournaments and 29 dual matches The Crimson Tide opens its slate with the annual Roberta Alison Fall Classic October 27-29, and will play at home 10 times in the spring.
"We're excited about our upcoming season," UA head coach Jenny Mainz said. "We have a renewed enthusiasm and spirit with six new players joining the Crimson Tide. We have a great group of newcomers that are eager to contribute to our success. It's refreshing and exciting. We're looking forward to all of the opportunities ahead this year."
Alabama kicks off the season at the Rice Invitational in Houston, Texas (Sept. 22-24) and will hit the road for the ITA Southern Regional Championships (Oct. 19-23) held in Auburn, Ala. before returning to Tuscaloosa to host the Roberta Alison Fall Classic (Oct. 27-29).
In the spring, Alabama will face 14 opponents who competed at the 2017 NCAA Division I Championships, 11 of which finished the season inside the top 25 nationally.
The Crimson Tide will open the 2018 spring season with a pair of doubleheaders at home, beginning with Alabama State and Jackson State on January 13, followed by Western Kentucky and Lipscomb on January 21. The Tide will then roll down to Lake Nona, Fla. to take on Central Florida (Jan.26) before returning back to Tuscaloosa to battle against Belmont and UAB (Jan. 28) and Washington (Feb. 9). Alabama concludes its non-conference schedule at the annual Blue Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala. on Feb. 23-24.
"The SEC is going to be as competitive as ever again this season," said Mainz. "We play in the best women's tennis conference in the country and it affords us chances wee- in and week-out. I believe our non-conference schedule will help our team gain confidence and equip us to battle in the SEC."
Alabama commences Southeastern Conference competition with Kentucky (March 2) and Vanderbilt (March 4) followed by a home match against Ole Miss (March 10) and a doubleheader at the Capstone with Mississippi State and UT Martin (March 10). The Tide will then face nine conference foes who all ended the season at the NCAA Championships in 2017, including a matchup against reigning national champion Florida (March 22). Alabama closes the regular season with two home matches against LSU (April 13) and Texas A&M (April 15).
Alabama travels to Knoxville, Tenn. for the SEC Championships April 18-22. NCAA first and second round action takes place May 11-13 and the 2018 NCAA Championships are slated for May 17-28 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
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