Razorbacks announce 2010 spring schedule

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Razorback men’s tennis team has high expectations entering the 2010 season, and once again the Razorbacks face a challenging spring schedule.

Ranked No. 53 in the preseason, the Razorbacks play 11 home matches in Fayetteville at the recently renovated George M. Billingsley Tennis Center against highly touted teams, including No. 8 Texas, No. 5 Tennessee, No. 7 Georgia and No. 11 Florida.

"The home court gives us a tremendous advantage," head coach Robert Cox said. "We have one of the finest facilities in the nation and our fans love to come out and support the team."

The Razorbacks have a challenging scheduled in 2010, facing eight teams ranked in the top 25. Arkansas opens the season at home with premier matches against No. 26 Washington on Jan. 17 at 1 p.m. and No. 11 Texas on Jan. 22.

Next, Arkansas joins No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 48 Indiana and No. 50 Columbia at the ITA National Indoors Kick-Off weekend in Oxford, Miss., Jan. 29-31. The top team advances to the 2010 ITA Men’s National Indoor Championship, which will be held in Charlottesville, Va., on Feb. 12-15.

The Razorbacks return home for back-to-back matches against Louisiana-Lafayette on Feb. 5 and Wichita State on Feb. 7.

Arkansas has claimed three of the last four matches against the Oklahoma Sooners and the Razorbacks look to build on their winning streak in Norman, Okla., on Feb. 12. The team makes a pivotal trip to Eugene, Ore., to battle the Ducks on Feb. 19 before facing Cal Poly the following day. Following the trip, the Hogs host three consecutive dual matches beginning with UMKC on Feb. 27, No. 11 Florida on March 5 and No. 36 South Carolina on March 7.

The Razorbacks swing through Mississippi to challenge reigning conference champion Ole Miss on March 12, followed by a March 14 trip to Starkville to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The road trip continues as the Razorbacks face the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Ga., on March 21.

March ends with a home date with Tennessee on March 28, followed by a quick trip to Tulsa on March 31 before a match against the Auburn Tigers at the Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, Ala., on April 2. Their road series continues as the Razorbacks face Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on April 4.

The Razorbacks finish conference action with home matches against No. 55 Vanderbilt, No. 14 Kentucky and No. 29 LSU on April 9, 11, and 17, respectively.

This year’s SEC Championship is hosted by Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., April 22-25. The NCAA Tournament begins with the first and second rounds scheduled to be held at campus sites May 15-16. The 2010 NCAA Championship follows in Athens, Ga., May 20-31.