PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – As the winter season is near, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Men’s Tennis program announced its 2016 spring schedules featuring a 21-match slate, the announcement came today. The schedule includes five home matches, including a four-match home stand, and 12 opponents with .500 overall records or better a season ago.

Maryland Eastern Shore begins their 2016 campaign against two formidable foes from the Patriot League. On Feb. 6, the Hawks open on the road against Bucknell where the Bison finished 14-9 overall with a 6-1 home record a year ago. The next day (Feb. 7), UMES heads to Annapolis, Md. to face Patriot League Champion Navy.

On Feb. 27, UMES will compete in two matches as they travel north to Salisbury to meet the Seagulls in the morning before facing Goucher in a neutral site. The next day (Feb. 28), Maryland Eastern Shore squares off against Stevenson at SU Tennis Center.

On Mar. 4, the Hawks meet North Atlantic Conference (NAC) West Champion Penn State-Abington in their home opener. A week later (Mar. 12), UMES plays three home matches in three days, starting with the Howard Bison. Then, St. Francis (N.Y.) comes to town (Mar. 13), followed by a visit from the Hampton Pirates.

On Mar. 17, Maryland Eastern Shore hits the road to take on the Norfolk State Spartans. The next day (Mar. 18), UMES travels down to Durham, N.C. where Campbell awaits. Next, the club stays in the Tar Hill state as they will take on Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foe North Carolina Central. On Mar. 21, the squad wraps up their southern rodeo in Greensboro, N.C. against North Carolina A&T State.

On Mar. 26, the Hawks face George Washington in our nation’s capital where they were undefeated (5-0) at home. On Mar. 31, the team takes on Monmouth before going to Baltimore to meet Loyola (Md.) on Apr. 1.

On Apr. 2, the Hawks meet in-state rival Coppin State in their home finale. The next day (Apr. 3), Maryland Eastern Shore squares off against Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md. Six days later (Apr. 9), the Temple Owls host UMES where they were a perfect 8-0 at home.

On Apr. 10, the Hawks meet MEAC North Champs Morgan State in Baltimore. On Apr. 16, the Hawks return to Baltimore to wrap up the regular season against Coppin State.

On Apr. 21-23, the MEAC will host the conference championships on the campus of Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Va. The top four teams from both divisions qualify and the winner receives an automatic bid into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament.