Columbus State men’s tennis team prepared for NCAA regional

From a look at the lineup of teams, it would appear that the Columbus State men’s tennis team is hosting the Peach Belt Conference tournament this weekend at the Mary V. Blackmon Tennis Center.

But instead, it is the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.

Columbus State and three conference foes — USC Aiken, Lander and Francis Marion — will be in the field fighting for a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16.

“We worked hard from Day 1 until the conference tournament in order to serve as hosts,” CSU coach Evan Isaacs said. “It is an honor to be one of the top two teams in this region, and it shows the consistency of our program.

“All four teams that have made it to this point are very well deserving and can beat anyone,” Isaacs said. “It is going to be a great weekend of tennis.”

This will be the 10th-ranked Cougars’ 17th trip to the NCAA tournament. They are 17-5.

CSU will face USC Aiken at 9 a.m. Saturday with Lander and Francis Marion playing at 1 p.m. The final will be played Sunday.

CSU has advanced to the Sweet 16 three times. It reached the final four in 2010 and 2011.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 5:36 PM with the headline "Columbus State men’s tennis team prepared for NCAA regional."