CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel will remain in its own backyard this weekend, taking on Eastern Florida State and USC Sumter at the Earle Tennis Center on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.

The Bulldogs (4-13) will be looking to bounce back from a 7-0 setback against crosstown rival College of Charleston on Wednesday. Phillip Quinn nearly came away with a victory for The Citadel at No. 3 singles, taking his opponent to three sets before falling in a hard-fought battle.

Saturday's bouts will give The Citadel six straight home matches as the Bulldogs seek their first victory since an 8-1 triumph over USC Sumter on Feb. 28.

Eastern Florida State enters the weekend with a 6-1 overall record and will take on the Fire Ants in Sumter on Friday afternoon before making the trip to Charleston on Saturday. The Titans' lone loss of the season came in an 8-1 defeat against Tyler Junior College on March 20.

Saturday's match will be just the second all-time between the Bulldogs and the Titans, with The Citadel earning a 6-2 victory over Eastern Florida State on March 17, 2018, in the only other meeting.

USC Sumter is 1-5 in 2021, picking up its one win in a 7-0 sweep of Spartanburg Methodist College on Feb. 6. The Citadel has already earned one win over the Fire Ants this season, defeating them 8-1 on Feb. 28 at the Earle Tennis Center.

The Citadel is a perfect 15-0 all-time against the Fire Ants, with six of those victories coming as sweeps.
 
Following Saturday's matches, The Citadel will finally close out its long homestand next Wednesday against Southern Conference foe Mercer. The Bulldogs will be seeking their first victory over the Bears since 2004, but trail in the all-time series by just a 9-6 margin.