Some of the best men’s and women’s collegiate teams from across the country will be invading the USTA National Campus starting in January for the 2017 edition of College MatchDay. A total of six enticing pairings will be held on the courts of the Collegiate Center, with every match beginning at 6 p.m.
Fans will get to enjoy a pre-match experience with food, drinks, games, a free kids’ clinic and much more, all starting two hours prior to first serve. Admission and parking for every match is free.
Below is a brief preview for the six matches. Make sure to save these dates:
Saturday, Jan. 21 – Alabama vs. Michigan (men) – A clash fit for a gridiron classic, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan Wolverines will kick off the College MatchDay schedule. This will be a particularly interesting match for Michigan head coach Adam Steinberg, who spent time in Tuscaloosa as the head coach of the Tide early in his career.
Friday, Feb. 3 – North Carolina vs. Texas Tech (women) – The first women’s College MatchDay on the 2017 slate features the Tar Heels and the Red Raiders. North Carolina, which reached the finals of the 2014 NCAA Championship, features top-ranked Hayley Carter. They will be up against a feisty Texas Tech squad that won 25 matches last season and finished ranked No. 15.
Friday, Feb. 17 – Oklahoma State vs. Stanford (women) – A rematch of last year’s NCAA Championship title match, the Cowgirls and Cardinal square off once again. Stanford pulled out a dramatic 4-3 victory over Oklahoma State to claim the NCAA crown a season ago, and with both teams returning several key players this year, this is sure to be another heated battle.
Wednesday, March 8 – UCF vs. Penn State (men) – The hometown Knights of UCF are featured in this College MatchDay duel, playing host to the Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten. Under the direction of first-year head coach John Roddick, UCF will be looking to pick up a signature non-conference triumph.
Friday, March 10 – Florida State vs. Florida (men) – The Seminoles and Gators meet up at the National Campus for a Sunshine State showdown. Florida swept Florida State 7-0 last season, making it nine consecutive victories in the rivalry for the Gators.
Tuesday, March 14 – Florida vs. Ohio State (women) – The Florida and Ohio State women will battle it out in the final match of the 2017 College MatchDay schedule. The Gators are perennial national title contenders, while the upstart Buckeyes have surged onto the national stage in the last couple of years, earning the No. 1 ranking during the spring a season ago.
**Dates and times subject to change; visit USTANationalCampus.com for more information.
