WILMINGTON, N.C. – Championship week in the Colonial Athletic Association has finally arrived and UNC Wilmington’s men and women teams have collected the fourth and sixth seeds for the CAA Tennis Championships scheduled for Thursday through Sunday in Newport News, Va.

First-year coach Mait DuBois and the men concluded the regular season with a 14-6 overall record and 3-1 conference mark, winning their last five matches, including a 4-3 decision over rival East Carolina last Saturday.

            The 10-team men’s event will be staged at the Huntington Park Tennis Center. First-round action begins Thursday when #7 Delaware takes on #10 George Mason and #8 Hofstra meets #9 Drexel. In Friday’s quarterfinals, #3 Old Dominion takes on #6 James Madison at 9 a.m., followed by #2 William and Mary against the Delaware/George Mason winner at 11:30 a.m. At 2 p.m., top-seeded VCU meets the Hofstra/Drexel winner, followed by #4 UNC Wilmington against #5 Georgia State at 3:30 p.m.

            The men’s semifinals will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the CAA championship match to take place at 10 a.m. Sunday.

            “I’m pleased with the draw,” said DuBois, who has the men’s program on the rise. The Seahawks and Panthers did not play during the regular season.  “I think we have the kind of team that’s improved with every match as the year has gone on. Our only conference loss came early in the year versus ODU indoors. I feel like we’re a completely different team now.

            “We have some guys who step up in big situations. We’re playing pretty good across the board and are looking forward to the tournament.”

            The Seahawk men have compiled a 75-44 singles record and 31-25 doubles ledger this season. Freshman Alex Wetherell leads the squad with a 15-5 scorecard, while fellow rookie Kinshuk Sharma stands 13-6. Top singles player Gustavo Bertei has teamed with junior Brian Ford for a 10-6 record at No. 2 doubles.

            Three different teams have captured the league’s men’s crown the past three years, with William and Mary winning in 2005, VCU taking home its 10^th title in 11 years in 2006, and Georgia State claiming its first CAA crown in 2007. Old Dominion hasn’t won the CAA title since 1994, but has played in the championship match three of the past four years.

            The CAA has an outstanding tradition in men’s tennis, with a league-record four teams (Georgia State, Old Dominion, VCU and William & Mary) making the NCAA Tournament field one year ago. VCU is currently ranked #26 and William and Mary is rated #57.

            On the women’s side, Coach Jenny Garrity’s squad fashioned a 17-9-1 record during the regular season and 4-4 mark in the CAA. The Lady Seahawks won three of their final four matches, but dropped a 6-1 verdict to Old Dominion Sunday in the regular season finale.

            “We’re really looking forward to playing this weekend,” said Garrity, who is wrapping up her eighth season. “Our team has shown its resiliency the entire season. I couldn’t be prouder of their competitiveness, teamwork and dedication to get better on a daily basis.”

            The Seahawk women have amassed a 98-54 singles record and 47-21 doubles record this spring. Junior Lauren Isenhour’s sparkling 21-2 tops the club in singles, while freshmen Chelsea Kahle and Lindsay Leblang are 10-3 at No. 3 doubles.

            “Our two freshmen, Lindsay (Leblang) and Chelsea (Kahle), have been playing and competing like upperclassmen all season. Kayla (Schwenk) and Hartley (Collins) are also playing some of their best tennis of the year going into this important weekend. Priscilla (Roberts) and Lauren (Isenhour) continue to be great leaders on and off the court, and I’m confident they will lead us into a successful weekend at the CAA’s.”

            UNCW, the No. 6 seed, faces 11^th-seeded Drexel in its opening match Thursday at 11:30 a.m. The Lady Seahawks blanked the Dragons, 5-0, in the second match of the season in early January during VCU’s 4x1 duals in Richmond.

            Garrity said: “While we have beaten our opening-round opponent already this year, we know they are going to present a big challenge for us. They are a tough, gritty team that we will need to be very prepared for.”

            Opening-round action in the 11-team women’s event kicks off Thursday at 11:30 a.m. with three first-round matches as #6 UNC Wilmington takes on #11 Drexel, #7 Hofstra faces #10 Towson and #8 James Madison meets #9 George Mason. In Friday’s quarterfinals, #3 Old Dominion takes on the UNCW/Drexel winner at 9 a.m., followed by #2 VCU against the Hofstra/Towson winner at 11:30 a.m. At 2 p.m., top-seeded William and Mary meets the James Madison/George Mason winner, followed by #4 Georgia State against #5 Delaware at 3:30 p.m.

            The women’s tournament semifinals will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, with the CAA championship match to take place at 1 p.m. Sunday.

            William and Mary is the defending tournament champion and has captured 19 of the last 22 CAA titles. The Tribe has reached the finals every year. VCU captured the CAA championship in 2003 and 2006 and has reached the finals the past six years. Old Dominion was the CAA champion in 2001.

            The CAA has had multiple teams compete in the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship six of the past eight years. William and Mary is ranked #22 and VCU is #36 this season.