The bracketed event, which has raised more than $100,000 for the men's and women's tennis programs during the course of the five-year tournament, is a major fundraiser for the Seahawks. A special clinic featuring participating players and coaches is on tap for Sunday morning for all participating sponsors.

     There is no admission fee and play begins daily at 8:30 a.m.

     Third-year men's coach Mait DuBois is looking forward to welcoming a field that includes players from Campbell, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, Georgia State, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Last year, Seahawk players won the A Flight Doubles and C Flight Singles, and advanced to the A and B Flight Singles finals matches.

     "We're very excited about our tournament this year for a number of reasons," said DuBois, the 2009 CAA Coach-of-the-Year. "It's rare in college tennis to have an event so closely tied into the local community. The support that we receive from the Country Club of Landfall is special, and it's unlike any event we play all year.

     "The way the local tennis community comes out and gets involved is a true testament to the area we live in and how much everyone wants us to succeed. It's the first event of the year, so it will be good to see our team again and watch the new players compete."

     Veteran women's coach Jenny Garrity serves as UNCW's liaison with the Landfall community on the event. The Lady Seahawks will battle netters from Furman, Georgetown, Kansas and N.C. State. Rising senior Kayla Schwenk of UNCW captured the Teal Flight singles title last year after beating UNC Chapel Hill's Jocelyn Friend in the semifinals and scooting past N.C. State's Neils Barringer, 6-4, 6-3, in the championship match.

     "We're very excited about opening our season and this tournament will test our players right out of the gates," said Garrity. "We invite not only tennis fans, but all sports enthusiasts to come out and watch the high quality tennis over the three days. Sponsorships are still available. They provide a unique opportunity to participate in the sponsor tennis clinic given Sunday morning by the players and coaches."

     "This year's field is the best yet. With the preparation and training that our players have done over the summer, I'm confident that we'll build on that in the three short weeks of practice we'll have before the event. I'm looking forward to seeing how they respond to the challenge of their opponents. It should help us get ready for the CAA, which could have as many as five teams in the preseason rankings.

     "I'm extremely grateful to Barb Biehner, Nikki Johnson, UNCW tennis alum Kristin Mears, Mike Russo and the rest of the CCL staff and community, who have worked tirelessly on this event since early spring to make it one of the elite fall tennis tournaments in the country."

     CCL Tennis Committee chair Barb Biehner encourages all tennis players and sports fans from the Wilmington community to participate in this special weekend of collegiate tennis.

     "The Country Club of Landfall, along with our title sponsor, RBC Wealth Management, recognize the need to support our university and its athletics programs," said Biehner. "We're very pleased to work with Coach DuBois and Coach Garrity to help them raise money for scholarships. Players who have competed in the past have said it's their favorite tournament, and they always look forward to the hospitality and the competition."

    Admission is free. The Drysdale Tennis Center may be accessed from the Landfall gate entrance on Eastwood Road. For more information, contact Biehner at (910) 962-3071 or Garrity at (910) 962-7714.