The two-time defending national champion Georgia men’s tennis team will face 12 NCAA Tournament participants from a year ago including home matches against SEC foes Florida, LSU, Auburn, Alabama and Tennessee as its 2008-09 schedule was released Monday. Matches against non-conference opponents Southern Cal and Georgia Tech also highlight the schedule.

“We’re excited about the upcoming year’s schedule,” head coach Manuel Diaz said. “The SEC will once again be one of the toughest conferences if not the best. The challenge for our young guys will be to continue to improve and develop. It will be a tough task trying to replace last year’s seniors, but we are very encouraged by the development of the younger guys.”

The Bulldogs open the season Sept. 12-14 with the first of seven fall tournaments at the Napa Valley Tournament in Napa, Calif. Georgia plays host to a pair of fall tournaments including the Southern Intercollegiate Sept. 19-22 and the Bulldog Scramble Nov. 7-9 to conclude the fall season.

Following a two-month break, the Bulldogs return to action Jan. 16-19 at the SEC Indoors followed by a four-match homestand starting with Southern Cal in the ITA Kickoff Jan. 30. Georgia faces either Washington or Indiana Jan. 31 in the second match of the ITA Kickoff, then plays host to East Tennessee State (Feb. 6) and William & Mary (Feb. before the ITA National Team Indoors in Chicago Feb. 13-16. Matches against Georgia State (Feb. 25), Georgia Tech (Feb. 27) and Furman (March 1) close out the non-conference slate.

Georgia opens league play on the road at Ole Miss (March 6) and Mississippi State (March before three straight home matches against Florida (March 13), South Carolina (March 15) and LSU (March 27). A contest at Arkansas on March 27 marks the only road match in a three week span.

Auburn and Alabama visit Athens on April 3 and April 5, respectively, and the Bulldogs hit the road for matches at Vanderbilt on April 10 and Kentucky on April 12. The regular season finale is scheduled for April 18 against Tennessee.

The SEC Tournament will be held in Auburn, Ala., April 23-26, prior to NCAA Regionals May 8-9. College Station, Texas, will be the site of the NCAA Championships May 14-25.

Georgia will be aiming for its third straight NCAA title in 2009 and seventh in program history.

- Georgia Sports Communications