BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The No. 9 ranked College of Coastal Georgia Men’s Tennis Team was invited to compete in the prestigious Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Team Indoor Championships on February 2nd – February 4th in Kansas City.
The 2024 ITA NAIA National Men’s Team Indoor Championship showcases the top eight men’s NAIA tennis teams in a three-day tournament to crown an indoor national champion. Last spring, the Mariners nabbed the prestigious invite with a school-best quarterfinal finish at the NAIA National Championships.
“We are fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Coastal Georgia at the ITA Men’s Indoor National Championship this year. We had a great run at the NAIA National Tournament last year in Mobile, knocking off the #19 and #3 seeds to make it to the quarterfinals. To be recognized as one of the Top 8 programs in the country going into the start of the spring is quite an honor and a testament to how hard the team has worked to get the program back into the Top 10. We have five seniors on the roster, and I can’t think of a better way to kick off their final season and their time in the Golden Isles than a trip to Kansas to battle it out with seven of the NAIA’s elite tennis programs,” said Coach Zack Rogers.
The Mariners will represent Coastal Georgia and the Golden Isles Community against No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett, No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan, University of Northwestern Ohio, No. 4 Southeastern, No. 7 Westcliff, No. 6 William Woods, and No. 5 Xavier (La.). The top 7 teams from the 2023 NAIA Men’s Tennis Coaches’ Top 25 Postseason Poll received an invitation, with one spot reserved for the host school: William Woods University.
“We’re all very excited about this opportunity,” said Adrien Guye. The senior from Geneva, Switzerland, finished the fall season ranked 20th on the ITA Collegiate Tennis National Singles Ranking sponsored by Tennis Point. “After beating the #3 seed in the national tournament last year, we hoped we would get the invite. I know the team, and I will represent Coastal Georgia with our best, we’re ready.”
The Mariners face the No. 1 seed, Georgia Gwinnett, at 8:00 a.m. (CT) on Friday, February 2nd, in the first round. Following the results of the first match, the Mariners will either compete in the semi-finals or the consolation bracket the following day, finishing with a third match on Sunday, February 4th. You can follow the tournament at coastalgeorgiasports.com
To learn more about the tournament and how to support the student-athletes in this opportunity on the national level, go to ccga.edu/tennisITA or contact Valerie Every at [email protected].