HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University tennis teams have released their inaugural Division I schedules, including a men's dual match against Walsh on Sept. 18.
Rivalries against area foes Cincinnati and Xavier will continue on, as well as an eight-match Atlantic Sun Conference schedule for both the men and women. The men will host Xavier on Feb. 9 while the Musketeers' women's team will visit Highland Heights on April 10. Additionally, Cincinnati will host the NKU women on March 26.
The men will open their spring season Jan. 20 against a Kentucky squad that boasts four singles players among the top 100 in the NCAA Division I preseason rankings. Other non-conference foes include Butler (Jan. 27), Western Kentucky (Feb. 16), Wright State (Feb. 20), Austin Peay (March 9), Bethune-Cookman (March 12) and Morehead State (March 19).
Last season, the men posted a 2-2 record against Division I foes, defeating Dayton and Bethune-Cookman, and advanced to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in school history.
The NKU women will boast a 16-match schedule that opens on Feb. 3 at Wright State. The Norse will also go out of league to face Western Kentucky (Feb. 16), Austin Peay (March 9), Bethune-Cookman (March 12), and Walsh (April 16).
"We have upgraded our schedule significantly this year for both teams," said head coach
Brian Nester, who led both Norse teams to semifinal finishes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament in his first season at NKU. "It will be exciting for our student-athletes to travel to new destinations."
2012-13 NKU men's tennis schedule
Tue., Sept. 18 WALSH
Fri.-Sat., Sept. 21-22 at Wright State Invitational
Sun., Jan. 20 at Kentucky
Sun., Jan. 27 at Butler
Sat., Feb. 9 XAVIER
Sat., Feb. 16 WESTERN KENTUCKY
Wed., Feb. 20 at Wright State
Sat. March 9 AUSTIN PEAY
Tues., March 12 at Bethune-Cookman
Thur., March 14 at Stetson*
Sat., March 16 at Florida Gulf Coast*
Tue. March 19 at Morehead State
Sat., March 23 at Lipscomb*
Thur., March 28 MERCER*
Sat., March 30 KENNESAW STATE*
Fri., April 5 at USC Upstate*
Sat., April 6 at East Tennessee State*
Thurs., April 11 NORTH FLORIDA*
2012-13 NKU women's tennis schedule
Fri.-Sat., Sept. 28-29 at Wright State Invitational
Sun., Feb. 3 at Wright State
Sat., Feb. 16 WESTERN KENTUCKY
Sat. March 9 AUSTIN PEAY
Tues., March 12 at Bethune-Cookman
Thur., March 14 at Stetson*
Sat., March 16 at Florida Gulf Coast*
Tue. March 19 at Morehead State
Sat., March 23 at Lipscomb*
Tues., March 26 at Cincinnati
Thur., March 28 MERCER*
Sat., March 30 KENNESAW STATE*
Fri., April 5 at USC Upstate*
Sat., April 6 at East Tennessee State*
Wed., April 10 XAVIER
Thurs., April 11 NORTH FLORIDA*
Tues., April 16 WALSH
*Atlantic Sun Conference match
