DePaul University Athletics
Men's Tennis Announces its 2009-10 Schedule
9/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S TENNIS
CHICAGO -- DePaul men's tennis coach Matt Brothers announced today his program's challenging 2009-10 schedule. The Blue Demons return seven players from last year's roster that advanced to the Championship of the BIG EAST Conference Tournament. DePaul's 2009-10 slate includes four NCAA Championship participant programs and eight matches at the Lakeshore Athletic Club.
"Our 2009-10 schedule is one of the toughest in DePaul's history and it's just the way we like it," Brothers said of his impending schedule. "Coming off our record-setting year, team confidence is at an all time high and we eagerly await the challenges that this season's schedule will bring."
The tournament portion of the Blue Demons' schedule keeps them close to Chicago in the fall. They open at the Ball State Invitational Sept. 25-27 and then travel the short distance to the Northwestern Invitational Oct. 2-4. DePaul's final two fall tournaments send the squad to Michigan for the Midwest Regional in Ann Arbor, Oct. 15-19 and then the Bronco Invitational, Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
Following a two month break, the Blue Demons begin the duel portion of their schedule at their home courts at the Lakeshore Athletic Club. DePaul puts its 20-match home win streak on the line when it hosts local rivals UIC and the University of Chicago on Jan. 16. The Blue Demons' program-long home win streak dates back to the 2005-06 season.
Following their home opener, the Blue Demons welcome Northern Illinois on Jan. 22 before closing out the month at Western Michigan (Jan. 24) and the Harvard Invitational (Jan. 29-31).
The month of February sees the Blue Demons host four duels before hitting the road for 11 matches. DePaul begins its home stretch against Illinois State and Green Bay on Feb. 6 before hosting NCAA participant Middle Tennessee State for a Valentine's Day showdown. Toledo visits Lincoln Park on Feb. 19 before the Blue Demons head to Iowa for matches at Drake (Feb. 27) and Iowa (Feb. 28). Last season, Drake was one of three nationally ranked teams the Blue Demons defeated on their way to a program-best No. 50 in the ITA rankings.
DePaul hits the road in March for a duel at NCAA participant Texas A&M - Corpus Christi (Mar. 3) before participating in the Islander's Team Tournament Mar. 5-6. The Blue Demons close out the month with a tour of Florida, playing matches at Stetson (Mar. 23), BIG EAST foe and NCAA qualifier USF (Mar. 24) and Central Florida (Mar. 27).
DePaul begins April in Texas at UT-Arlington and SMU before heading to the East Coast for duels at Old Dominion and William and Mary.
The Blue Demons close out their duel season by hosting league rival Marquette on April 17 for their Senior Day celebration before the BIG EAST Championship April 22-25.
