Sept. 26, 2007

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Match-ups against eight teams ranked in the top 75 of last year's final ITA tennis poll highlight the 2007-08 men's tennis schedule released today by head coach Paul Scarpa.

The Paladin will open the 2008 season on January 26 with a match against Florida State, a team that finished the 2007 season with a number 18 ranking. Other ranked teams the Paladins will face include Florida (16), Alabama (14), Georgia Tech (47), Georgia (1), Miami (38), College of Charleston (55), and Elon (44). The team will also participate in the Blue Grey National Invitational, which includes teams ranked in the top 50 in the country, held in Montgomery, Ala.

Furman begins Southern Conference play on March 9, with a trip to Georgia Southern. The Paladins will host seven home matches, including contests against The Citadel, College of Charleston, Appalachian State, and Wofford in Southern Conference play.

The Paladins, who finished 17-11 overall and 7-2 in the Southern Conference in 2007, return 13 players to a team that finished third in the SoCon last year, including junior Andy Juc, the youngest Paladin ever to be selected to participate in the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships.