The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team has a pair of non-conference matches on the schedule this weekend.  The Mocs host Montreat on Friday, March 2, before traveling to Georgia Southern on Sunday, March 4. 

The match against the Cavaliers is set for 6:15 p.m. (E.S.T.) Friday at Covenant College on Lookout Mountain.  The Georgia Southern dual is 10:00 a.m. on Sunday in Statesboro, Ga.

"The upcoming weekend is the start of a two month stretch of tennis that will see this team really tested," stated UTC's first-year head coach Chuck Merzbacher. "The weather looks to clear for our match against Montreat, and we could use the outdoor play.  We are going to be playing Montreat under the lights up on Lookout Mountain at Covenant College.
 
"We then head to Georgia Southern for Sunday's match with a team we are very familiar with. Georgia Southern is very deep and strong at each spot. It will be a battle!"
 
The Cavaliers are members of the NAIA's Appalachian Athletic Conference.  They have a 5-6 overall record, including wins in each of their last two matches.  The Eagles are 2-8 overall, including a 5-2 loss to SoCon-foe Mercer in their season opener on Jan. 23 in Statesboro. 

Chattanooga enters the weekend with a 5-5 overall record, following Saturday's 4-3 victory in the Southern Conference opener against The Citadel.  Sophomore Niklas Gerdes has won four in a row and is 6-3 at No. 1.  He and fellow sophomore Simon Bustamante have a 4-4 mark at No. 1 doubles. 

This is the first time UTC has faced Montreat, but the Mocs have a long history with Georgia Southern.  The Eagles were members of the Southern Conference from 1992-2014.  UTC holds a 16-12 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1987.  GSU has won the last two, including last year's 4-3 victory on Feb. 5 in Chattanooga.