Tennis Releases Spring Schedule
9/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 22, 2011
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin women's tennis team has released its 2012 spring schedule announced second-year head coach Patrick Sullivan Thursday afternoon. The schedule, which is one of the toughest in program history, is highlighted with matches against schools from the Southeastern Conference, Big 10, Big XII, Pac 12, Big East, Conference USA, Sun Belt and Western Athletic Conferences, and includes two teams that finished last season nationally ranked.
"We have a very challenging schedule this spring," said head coach Patrick Sullivan. "We are facing programs from the Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Pac 12, and SEC as well as several other strong teams from our area. The top goal of any team is to win their conference and receive the automatic bid into the field of 64.
"The less glamorous, but equally effective backup plan is to have a good overall strength of schedule and enough good wins to have a shot at an at-large bid. Of course the odds of going 20-5 again this season certainly decreases against the kind of competition that we will be facing, but we do feel that this team is up to the challenge. Ultimately, the tough non-conference schedule should prepare us for our Southland Conference run much better than last year's schedule did," added Sullivan.
The 'Jacks kick off the spring schedule Jan. 12 in Boca Raton, Fla., to face Florida Atlantic. The match against the Owls opens a tough six-day stretch where SFA will step on the court to face an opponent, including Illinois as well as a spot in the Florida Gulf Coast College Tournament.
SFA opens the season with 17 dates away from Nacogdoches before their home opener against McNeese State Mar. 10. It will be one of eight matches played at the Schlief Tennis Complex prior to the 2012 SLC Championships, hosted by SFA (April 27th-29th).
The youthful SFA squad will close out the month of January with matches against Louisville (Jan. 21), North Texas (Jan. 27) and Colorado (Jan. 28). Following the match against Colorado, the 'Jacks will take nearly two weeks off before opening February against Arkansas-Little Rock. That will be the final tune-up before SFA opens conference play at Central Arkansas on Feb. 11th.
Fans can view the complete 2012 spring schedule by clicking here.
-SFA-
