Oct. 6, 2011

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - After a month-long break, the Navy men's tennis team will resume its fall season this weekend when the Midshipmen play host to the Navy Gold Invitational. The three-day event starts Friday and runs through Sunday.

There will NOT be shuttle bus service for any of the matches being played this weekend. Fans wishing to attend the outdoor matches at the USNA will need to park outside of the Academy gates and walk through the visitors center, while parking will be available adjacent to the Tose Family Tennis Center for any matches being played indoors. Maps, directions and USNA access information can be obtained by clicking HERE.

Navy will first face UMBC Friday at 2 p.m. before taking on a combined team from George Washington and Morgan State Saturday at 9 a.m. The Mids will close the invite by playing host to Georgetown Sunday at 2 p.m. The remaining schedule has George Washington / Morgan State playing Georgetown Friday at 10 a.m., Georgetown taking on UMBC Saturday at 2 p.m. and UMBC facing George Washington / Morgan State Sunday at 9 a.m.

Friday's matches will be played outdoors at the U.S. Naval Academy Tennis Courts and, weather permitting, the entire tournament will be played on the outdoor courts. The matches will be contested at the Tose Family Tennis Center should poor weather force play to be moved indoors.

No team scoring will be utilized this weekend. Instead, the players will be competing as individuals in a flighted tournament.

"We welcome our opponents here this weekend," said Navy head coach John Officer. "All are excellent teams. We always have great matches with Georgetown and Morgan State, George Washington won the Atlantic 10 last year and UMBC was the runner-up in the America East. We look to continue our solid play from the first invitational."

Navy's players combined to post an 11-10 record in singles and a 5-5 mark in doubles against St. Bonaventure, Binghamton and Temple during the Navy Blue Invitational contested in early September. Pacing the Mids on the weekend, in terms of record, were the program's four freshmen. Blake Daniel (Overland Park, Kan.), Calvin Mark (Union City, Calif.) and Peter McDonald (Chapel Hill, N.C.) all compiled 2-1 records in both singles and doubles, while Tyler Burnett (Fayetteville, Ga.) tallied a 2-1 record in singles.

Navy played each of the opponents it will face this weekend during the 2011 spring dual meet season. The Mids recorded a 4-3 win over Georgetown and a 5-2 win over Morgan State while suffering a 4-0 defeat to UMBC and a 6-1 loss to George Washington.