The South Carolina State men’s & women’s tennis teams will take on nationally ranked University of Georgia in the opening round of 2009 NCAA Tennis Championship, beginning May 8-9 at Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens , GA.

The men will play on May 8 at  4 p.m., while the women will play on May 9 at 1 p.m.

This is the fifth time in the tournament for both SCSU tennis teams under head coach Hardeep Judge. The Lady Bulldogs are making their fifth consecutive appearance after earning the conference’s automatic berth. As for the men, this is their fifth NCAA appearance since 2004 and eighth MEAC title overall.

Both teams are also seeking their first match win in the NCAA tournament after getting swept in each of the previous appearances.

Currently, the Georgia women’s tennis team, under the direction of Jeff Wallace is ranked third nationally with a 23-2 record. The Lady Bulldogs clinched their third straight SEC Tournament title. Georgia will be making its 22nd all-time NCAA appearance. They won the national title in 1994 and 2000.

Meanwhile, the Georgia men’s tennis team, led by coach Manuel Diaz, is ranked fourth nationally with a 22-3 record. They won the SEC Eastern Division this season and reached the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. The Bulldogs are the two-time defending NCAA Champions.

They will be making their 31st overall appearance and looking to capture their seventh NCAA title. Georgia has reached the finals the past three years and claimed the title in 2007 and 2008.