"Our 2011-12 schedule is littered with a slew of top-20 national programs," Joffe said. "On this basis, I expect this year's installment of the Aggie team -- including four new faces -- to face enormous challenges. That said, our group will be motivated, prepared, passionate, and excited to prove ourselves at the highest level nationally."
The Aggies open the fall season Sept. 16 with a split squad competing at the three-day Midland Invitational and several players participating in the Duke Invitational. Several players also will play in the Texas Fall Invitational in Austin, Sept. 23-25, and some are expected to be invited to compete in the ITA All-American Championships, Oct. 1-9, in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
On Oct. 21-25, the Aggies will play in the ITA Texas Regional in Fort Worth with a goal of advancing to the ITA National Individual Indoor Championships, Nov. 3-6, in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. A&M concludes the fall tournament season Nov. 4-6 at the UNC Kitty Harrison Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C.
A&M will once again begin the spring dual season by participating in the ITA Kickoff Weekend. The Aggies will face Mississippi in the opener on Jan. 27 in Tallahassee, Fla., and then take on either Florida State or Ohio State in the second round. The winner of the tournament earns a berth into the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, Feb. 10-13, in Charlottesville, Va.
Eleven of the Aggies' 12 non-conference, spring-season matches are against opponents who were listed in the 2011 final ITA rankings, including Michigan, which finished No. 10 and will be coming to A&M's George P. Mitchell Tennis Center on March 9.
A&M is scheduled to host 10 regular season matches overall during the spring, making their home debut Feb. 24 against the Rice Owls. A&M opens Big 12 Conference play March 16 against Missouri in Columbia. The Aggies open the home conference slate against Kansas State on March 30 at the Mitchell Tennis Center. In addition, A&M will host the Big 12 Championships, April 26-29.
A&M returns four letterwinners from last year's team that went 15-9 and advanced to the first round of the NCAA tournament. In addition, Joffe welcomes four newcomers.
For the complete schedule, go to AggieAthletics.com.