STATESBORO - The Georgia Southern men's tennis team prepares to open up the 2023 spring season on January 20 in the Sunshine State, as they take on Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., on Jan. 20 and UCF in Orlando, Fla. on Jan. 22. Both matches are slated for 2 p.m. on their respective days.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN OUTLOOK: The Eagles are looking to take the next step after finishing with a 7-11 record in 2022. Four new additions to the Eagles look to make an impact, including San Diego State transfer Judson Blair, as well as three new enrollees: freshman Matthew Mitchell, freshman Pierre Mouesca, and freshman Aaron Williams. Georgia Southern nearly advanced in the Sun Belt Championship with a late rally against second-seeded South Alabama before the Jaguars halted the Eagles' comeback bid. The Eagles saw a three-match winning streak during the season against Gardner-Webb, College of Charleston, and old SoCon foe UNCG. Once the season was over, awards and accolades came to the Eagles, with Pol del Castillo earning the Sun Belt's Freshman of the Year award and Alexandros Roumpis being named All-Sun Belt Singles Second Team. This season, the Eagles will tackle a strong out-of-conference schedule before competing in a tough Sun Belt Conference.

FLAGLER SERIES: The Eagles and Saints have met 17 total times, with Flager taking the previous two match ups between the two squads. The two have not met since 1992.

FLAGLER OUTLOOK: The Saints finished with a 20-6 record in 2022, including a trip to the Division II Final Four, where FC fell to the second-seeded Barry Bucs, 0-4. The Saints also made it to the Peach Belt Conference Championship before falling to the top-seeded Columbus State Cougars, 0-4. Flager boasts two players that are ranked regionally in the ITA Division II Regional Rankings; No. 12 Nikita Tatyanin and No. 20 Pavlos Parson. Since this is a DI vs DII match, the match will count as an exhibition for Flagler.

UCF SERIES: The Eagles and the Knights have met 13 times in their histories, with the Knights holding the edge in the series, 7-6. The two programs last met in 2014.

UCF OUTLOOK: UCF finished the 2022 spring season with a 8-15 overall record, with their season ending in the American Athletic Conference Championship first round against rival USF, 3-4. UCF ended the season with match-ups against eight ranked opponents, including two-straight matches against USF. UCF's duo of Lleyton Cronje and Bogdan Pavel rank No. 28 in the nation after earning AAC All-Conference Doubles Team in 2022.

UP NEXT: The Eagles will host its home opener against The Citadel on Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Wallis Tennis Center at 10 a.m., before hosting the second match of the weekend on Sunday, Jan. 29, against North Florida at 2 p.m. Admission is free to the public.