While the women opened play last weekend, the men will get their 2016 season underway Saturday when they travel to Starkville to face Mississippi State of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) at 3 p.m. Saturday.
 
"We are excited to get the men's season started," Head Coach Anuk Christiansz said.  "We are looking to build on last year's conference championship and playing a tough team like Mississippi State to start the season will only help us get better as the season goes."
 
The Hornets return all but one letter winner from last year's historic championship season including All-SWAC and SWAC Tournament MVP Takura Mlambo.
 
Ronald Mataba and Jarred Thompson both return after their All-SWAC seasons as well as Patrick Cvik and Karlo Skvorc who joined Mlambo and Thompson on the All SWAC Tournament Team.
 
Adam Coyne, whose final point in singles play at the conference tourney was the championship winner, returns for his senior campaign as does Digvijay Naruka.
 
Joining the Hornets this season are newcomers Szabin Pusztay and Jose Ogea.
 
"Once again I really like our team this year," Christiansz said.  "Our returners have been through the wars with us as we built this program and the younger players are talented and will give us the depth we have not had in the past."
 
While the Hornets open with the Bulldogs on the road, they will host their first match of the season Sunday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. when Young Harris visits Olean Black Underwood Tennis Complex.
 
The Lady Hornets were set to play at Troy Friday, Feb. 5, but the match was cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date.  ASU will host two matches over the weekend.  They host Alabama A&M Saturday at 10 a.m. while Savannah State will play the Lady Hornets Sunday, Feb. 7 at 10 a.m.
 
"I have always been impressed with our ladies team," Christiansz said.  "They have come such a long way in short period of time and it is due to their hard work.  They continue to work hard every day in practice and I look forward to them carrying that hard work into the matches this weekend."