MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The men's tennis team will open the 2009 fall season by competing in the oldest fall collegiate tennis tournament.

The 42nd Annual Southern Intercollegiate Championships, hosted by the University of Georgia, will be held Friday, Sept. 18 through Monday, Sept. 21.

In addition to the Blue Raiders, the tournament will feature teams from 27 schools including Alabama, Duke, host Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest. Sun Belt foe South Alabama will also compete in the tournament.

The Southern Intercollegiate Championships divides the field into three singles divisions and two doubles divisions. There will be a maximum of two rounds for singles consolation for first round losers but no doubles consolation.

"I am looking forward to our first tournament of the year. It will be great competition and I am excited to see how the guys perform coming off of last season and a four month break. We are excited to get things rolling and begin the fall," head coach David McNamara said.

John Peers returns in 2009 for his junior campaign after a notable sophomore season. Peers enters fall play with a clean slate after posting an impressive 20-1 dual match record and a 24-3 overall record.

Peers is ranked 90th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason poll and will guide a team who won the Sun Belt Championships last season.

Victor Melo battled injuries last season but is ready to go this fall after having time to heal. Melo along with Richard Cowden will add depth to the Blue Raider arsenal. Cowden, who missed most of the spring season, returns this fall healthy and ready to aid the Blue Raiders.

Alex McCann, Kyle Wishing and Matthew Langley also return from last year's championship team adding depth and assistance to this year's squad.

There will be no live scoring during the tournament but results will be posted on goblueraidrs.com as soon as they become available.

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