Dec. 10, 2008

BOCA RATON, Fla.- Florida Atlantic University's men's tennis 2009 schedule is set and will feature nine teams that played in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, including six that are competing in the National ITA Indoor Team Championships.

FAU's home slate will include two defending conference champions, including Rice University who finished No. 22 in last season's final polls. The Owls will face six nationally-ranked non-conference teams who represent the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big East, Conference USA (C-USA) and the Atlantic Sun (A-Sun). The non-conference schedule will set up the Sun Belt Conference (SBC), one of the nation's top tennis conferences which will feature the University of Denver and the University of South Alabama.

FAU, under the direction of first-year head coach Brandon Stokes, will face one of the most demanding schedules in its history. The Owls climbed as high as No. 51 in 2008, achieving the program's highest national rank. At season's end, FAU challenged for a conference crown but fell to No. 74 nationally. To overcome the loss of several starters, returning players must demonstrate consistent effort, commitment, and enthusiasm to build upon last season's success.

All home matches are played at Patch Reef Tennis Center (PRTC), 2000 NW 51st St., in Boca Raton. PRTC is a public award-winning tennis facility with 17 lighted Plexi-cushion courts and a stadium court., and was the recipient of the prestigious USTA Outstanding Facility of the Year Award. PRTC is the host of the Florida Open International Wheelchair Tennis Championships and the Champion Porsche $10,000 Futures of Boca Raton - a USTA Pro Circuit event.

For a complete schedule, visit fausports.cstv.com/sports/m-tennis/sched/fau-m-tennis-sched.html.