Georgia puts men’s tennis streaks on the line today

ATHENS —- Georgia’s men’s tennis team enters the NCAA tournament on two impressive streaks —- 60 consecutive home-court victories and two consecutive national championships.

The first step toward extending the title streak to three is to extend the home-court streak to 62.

The Bulldogs play a first-round NCAA match today against South Carolina State at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex and, if victorious, a second-round match there Saturday.

The Bulldogs haven’t lost at home in four years.

“After the first year, you go, ‘That’s pretty good,’” coach Manuel Diaz said. “After two years, you start to hear about it a little. The last year and a half, you hear about it every match. Now … I think you say, ‘That’s pretty special. Let’s keep it rolling.’

“It’s just a reflection of the great teams we’ve had.”

Unless you’re a UGA tennis aficionado, you might be surprised to know this is not the school’s longest home win streak. The Bulldogs won 76 consecutive home matches before losing to Miami in 1972, when Diaz was a freshman on the UGA team.

If Georgia —- 22-3 overall this season and the No. 4 national seed —- wins its next two matches, it’ll be among 16 teams advancing from various sites to College Station, Texas, for a shot at the NCAA title.

Could Georgia win a third in a row?

“We’re not as talented on paper as our previous three teams, but the way we compete and the way we have improved and the way we can execute are as good as any of those teams,” Diaz said. “I think we can compete with anybody; I think we can win against anybody.”

He doesn’t believe there is one dominant team this year, although he acknowledges undefeated and top-seeded Virginia might disagree.

“I think there are six or eight teams that can win this tournament,” Diaz said, “and I think we’re one of them.”

Georgia’s women start NCAA play here Saturday, also against South Carolina State. The women’s team is 23-2, the No. 2 national seed and a winner of 17 in a row at home.

NCAA tennis regionals

at Georgia:

Today (men): UNC-Wilmington vs. Virginia Tech, 1 p.m.; Georgia vs. South Carolina State, 4 p.m.

Saturday (women): Alabama vs. Boise State, 10 a.m.; Georgia vs. South Carolina State, 1 p.m.

at Georgia Tech:

Today: Mississippi vs. Denver, 10 a.m.; Georgia Tech vs. Jackson State, 1 p.m.

at Clemson:

Today: Georgia State vs. North Carolina, 11 a.m.; Clemson vs. Winthrop, 2 p.m.