BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University men's tennis announced its 2010 slate Monday afternoon. The Mountaineers play eight home contests in 2010, highlighted by match-ups against in-state rival East Carolina and SoCon foes College of Charleston and Davidson. To view the complete 2010 schedule click here.

The Black and Gold prepare for the ever-challenging season by playing in four fall tournaments. ASU travels to Spartanburg, S.C. for the Wofford Invitational October 3-4, and continues with their road stints with the Davidson Invitational, October 10-11, NCAA Mideast Regionals in Chapel Hill, N.C., October 15-18 and with the fall season finale at the College of Charleston Invitational, October 23-25.

The 2010 slate kicks off with a home contest against East Carolina on February 6. Appalachian came away with a thrilling 4-3 win over the Pirates last season in Greenville, N.C.

After being at home for one match, the Apps hit the road for a contest against Liberty on February 13, before returning back to the High Country to play Lees-McRae at Yonahlossee on February 15.

The following weekend, the squad travels off the mountain once more, heading to Winston-Salem, N.C. to face Winston-Salem State and Catawba College on February 21.

ASU looks for revenge, as the schedule becomes more grueling with a match against national-power South Carolina on February 27. The Mountaineers battled the Gamecocks last season, but were unable to come away with a win, falling 6-1.

After the USC contest, Appalachian takes on Gardner-Webb on the road, and then begins their 2010 Spring Break road-swing to Florida. In the Sunshine State, ASU plays Bethune Cookman, Georgia State and North Florida, before finally returning back to Boone to play UNC Asheville on March 17.

The Apps face perhaps one of their biggest challenges of the Southern Conference portion of the schedule right away, taking on defending SoCon regular season and tournametn champion Furman in their first conference match of 2010 on March 24 in Greenville, S.C.

The SoCon schedule isn't any kinder to ASU, who then returns home to play College of Charleston and Georgia Southern, March 26 and 28th.

Matches against Chattanooga and UNC Greensboro are scheduled for April 3 and 6, before the Mountaineers begin a three match-homestand starting on April 9 against The Citadel. During the home-stand, the Black and Gold will also play Charlotte and Samford.

In the final two regular-season road matches of 2010, Appalachian squares off against Elon and Wofford before the regular-season finale against Davidson in Boone, N.C. on April 18 at 1 p.m.

The Southern Conference tournament is slated for April 22-26 in Charleston, S.C.

ASU has high hopes for 2010, as it is coming off its best season in 2009 in over 10 years, one that saw the Apps post a 15-10 record including a 5-5 mark in SoCon action. In a season of firsts, the Apps earned their first-ever team national ranking at no.67 in the country and senior Bobby Lake was ranked in singles play at 125. Lake also became the first player since 1997 to earn first-team all-SoCon honors, while head coach Bob Lake nabbed his 100th career win in the team's 7-0 victory over The Citadel.

Head Coach Bob Lake has much anticipation for the upcoming 2010 campaign.

"As always, as a program we are extremely excited for the 2010 season. Our schedule is very tough, especially with contests against South Carolina and conference foes Furman, Elon and College of Charleston. We look to build upon last year's successes and continue peform well and hopefully bring home a Southern Conference title."