FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-18-01

AASU Hosts 2001 Peach Belt Conference Tennis Championships
Lander, Clayton College & State Top Seeds In Men's, Women's Draws

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The 2001 Peach Belt Conference Tennis Championships hold first serve on Thursday, April 19, at the Armstrong Atlantic State University Tennis Complex with eight-time defending NCAA DII champion Lander as the top seed in the men's draw and upstart Clayton College & State as the top seed in the women's draw.

Lander (11-5, 7-0 PBC), ranked No. 8 in the nation, went undefeated in the Peach Belt during the regular season to capture the top seed. The Senators have won the Peach Belt Conference tournament each of the nine years the conference has hosted the tournament, including last year's 5-4 win over host Armstrong Atlantic State in the finals.

Out to challenge Lander's reign at the top of the men's draw will be No. 2-seed North Florida (13-7, 6-2 PBC), ranked No. 16 in the nation, and Francis Marion (9-8, 5-2 PBC), ranked No. 10 in the nation. The host Pirates (13-7, 5-3 PBC) are ranked No. 4 in the nation but are seeded fourth in the tournament. Men's first-round play begins on Thursday, April 19 with the 8/9 seed match at 8:00 a.m., featuring Columbus State and Augusta State.

Clayton College & State (14-1, 10-0 PBC) completed an impressive run to their first regular season PBC championship in any sport, going undefeated in the PBC regular season and achieving a national ranking of No. 7. Host Armstrong Atlantic State (16-5, 9-1 PBC) is seeded No. 2 and is itching for a rematch with the Lady Lakers after losing 5-4 back on February 17. No. 8-ranked AASU had its streak of eight straight PBC Tournament titles snapped last year by North Florida.

Kennesaw State (11-2, 8-2 PBC) is seeded third and ranked No. 12 in the nation, while Georgia College & State (15-5, 7-3 PBC) is seeded fourth and ranked No. 13 in the nation and defending PBC tournament champion North Florida (13-8, 6-4 PBC) is seeded fifth and ranked No. 5 in the nation. Women's tournament play begins at 8:00 a.m. with the 8/9 seeds – USC Aiken and USC Spartanburg – and the 6/11 seeds – Augusta State and UNC Pembroke.

In all, seven of the top 30 ranked teams in the latest Wingspanbank.com ITA Division II National Rankings are in the PBC men's and women's brackets, the most for any conference in the nation.

Play continues all day Thursday and Friday, April 20, with the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship matches taking place on Saturday, April 21 at 11:30 a.m. (women) and 2:30 p.m. (men).

- Pirates -