Men's Tennis announces challenging 2023 slate

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Bryant University men's tennis head coach Nestor Bernabe announced one of the most challenging schedules in program history on Tuesday. The 2023 championship slate is set to get underway on Jan. 14 at the University of Arizona. 

Bernabe, who was hired in September, will waist little time putting the Black and Gold to the test this spring. The Bulldogs' schedule features trips to Arizona, Arizona State, Tulsa and Oklahoma in preparation for their first season as members of the Southland Conference. Bryant will face three Southland members during the regular season.

The 25-match schedule begins on Jan. 14 at the University of Arizona. Bryant will face the Wildcats and the University of Illinois on the same day. The following day, the Bulldogs will make their way to Tempe to face Arizona State and Witchita State. Bryant closes its Arizona trip on Jan. 16 when it visits Northern Arizona. 

Bryant then heads to Oklahoma for three matches. The Bulldogs will face Tulsa and Oklahoma Wesleyan on Jan. 20 before closing the trip at the University of Oklahoma on Jan. 21.

The Bulldogs finally return to the Northeast in February, heading to Binghamton, N.Y., for matches against the Bearcats (Feb. 17) and Cleveland State (Feb. 18). 

Bryant's first home matches come the following weekend when it welcomes Boston University (Feb. 24) and the University of Delaware (Feb. 26) to Fore Court in Cumberland. 

The Black and Gold open March in Hanover, N.H., facing Dartmouth (Mar. 3) and Penn State (Mar. 4). 

Bryant then hosts Sacred Heart on Mar. 6, and travels to in-state rival Brown on Mar. 8. The Bulldogs will play their first Southland Conference match on Mar. 11 when NJIT comes to Fore Court. It will be part of a doubleheader as the Black and Gold will Nichols College, coached by former Bryant head coach Ron Gendron, in the afternoon. 

The Black and Gold's final non-conference matches of the year come against Quinnipiac (Mar. 26), Columbia (Apr. 1), Saint Joseph's (Apr. 3) and Monmouth (Apr. 4). Bryant's doubleheader with Columbia will be a rematch of the 2019 NCAA Tournament match between the two schools.

Bryant closes the regular season with two Southland Conference matches in the state of Texas. The Bulldogs will face University of Incarnate Word on Apr. 8 and Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Apr. 10.

The Southland Conference Men's Tennis Championships will be held April 20-23 in Corpus Christi, Texas.