NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion Head Men's Tennis Coach Domink Mueller announced the 2024 spring slate for the Monarchs on Thursday with 11 home matches for the defending Sun Belt Conference Tournament Champions.
"Another exciting spring season is upon us and I think this schedule reflects our ambitions again," said Mueller. "Our non-conference schedule sees four teams that made the NCAA tournament last year; combined with two Big 10 schools on the road, we will be tested before a highly competitive Sun Belt schedule."
The season opens on January 20 when they'll host a pair of matches starting with Temple at 10 a.m. and then Howard at 4 p.m. inside the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center. They'll visit the Midwest to close out the month with a January 26 match at Wisconsin and then one at Drake two days later. ODU defeated Wisconsin last year rallying from a 3-1 deficit with a trifecta of three-set wins for the 4-3 victory.
February begins with an Ivy League home weekend as the Monarchs tangle with Penn on Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. and then host Brown at 10 a.m. on Feb. 4. A 757 doubleheader will take place on February 7 as ODU will face Norfolk State at noon and William & Mary at 6 p.m. ODU will then visit in-state rival VCU on February 16 and head to Penn State on February 18.
Coming off the final national-ranking last season, the Monarchs earned a bid to participate in the Blue-Gray Tournament in Montgomery, Alabama on February 23-24. Teams that finished in the top 75 nationally last year were invited and ODU joins Alabama, Auburn, Michigan State, Princeton, Rice, Boise State and former conference rival Middle Tennessee State in the prestigious event.
"A real highlight will be playing at the Blue Gray Invitational. It is the oldest and most prestigious college tennis tournament in the country and the field consists of all 8 teams being ranked Top 75 at the end of last season. I'm excited for our players to get this experience and opportunity," Mueller said.
March will start in Lynchburg as ODU visits Liberty on the eighth at 3 p.m. Conference play begins at home with a rematch of the conference final of last year taking on South Alabama at 10 a.m. on March 16, then facing Troy on March 17 also at 10 a.m.
ODU heads to Georgia to tangle with Georgia State on March 22 and then Georgia Southern on March 24. The month ends with a home weekend facing Louisiana on March 29 and Southern Miss on March 30 with both at 10 a.m.
In April, the Monarchs start with a road weekend visiting Charlotte on April 5 and then Coastal Carolina on April 7. They'll celebrate Senior Day on April 11 with a 1 p.m. start against UNC Wilmington, then close the regular season at JMU on April 13.
The Sun Belt Tournament will be held in Rome, Georgia on April 18-21.
MEN'S TENNIS SPRING 2024 SCHEDULE
All Times Eastern
January 20 | Temple | Home | 10 a.m. |
January 20 | Howard | Home | 4 p.m. |
January 26 | Wisconsin | Madison, Wis. | 6:30 p.m. |
January 28 | Drake | Des Moines, Iowa | Noon |
February 3 | Penn | Home | 1 p.m. |
February 4 | Brown | Home | 10 a.m. |
February 7 | Norfolk State | Home | Noon |
February 7 | William & Mary | Home | 6 p.m. |
February 16 | VCU | Richmond, Va. | 3 p.m. |
February 18 | Penn State | State College, Pa. | 1 p.m. |
Feb. 23-24 | Blue-Gray Tournament | Montgomery, Ala. | All Day |
March 8 | Liberty | Lynchburg, Va. | 3 p.m. |
March 16 | South Alabama | Home | 10 a.m. |
March 17 | Troy | Home | 10 a.m. |
March 22 | Georgia State | Atlanta, Ga. | 3 p.m. |
March 24 | Georgia Southern | Statesboro, Ga. | 10 a.m. |
March 29 | Louisiana | Home | 10 a.m. |
March 30 | Southern Miss | Home | 10 a.m. |
April 5 | Charlotte | Charlotte, N.C. | 2 p.m. |
April 7 | Coastal Carolina | Conway, S.C. | 10 a.m. |
April 11 | UNC Wilmington | Home | 1 p.m. |
April 13 | JMU | Harrisonburg, Va. | 10 a.m. |
April 18-21 | Sun Belt Tournament | Rome, Ga. | All Day |