University of North Carolina Athletics
Niels Ratiu
Photo by: DALTON WAINSCOTT
Men's Tennis Heading To Starkville For 2027 ITA Kickoff Weekend
June 18, 2026 | Men's Tennis
The North Carolina men's tennis team will travel to Starkville, Miss., to take part in the 2027 ITA Kickoff Weekend Starkville Regional, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced on Thursday.
The field and draw for the regional was determined via the 2027 ITA Kickoff Weekend Draft on Thursday afternoon. In order of final 2026 ITA rankings, teams could select which regional they will be part of.
Carolina, seeded third in Starkville, will play second-seeded USC in its opening match on Saturday January 23, 2027, on the outdoor courts in Starkville. On Sunday January 24th, the UNC-USC winner will play the winner of top-seeded Mississippi State and fourth-seeded Tennessee, while the losers of the two Saturday matches will meet in a third-place match on Sunday.
The champion of the Starkville regional will advance to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in Clemson, S.C., and Columbia, S.C., on February 12-16, 2027.
The 19th annual Kickoff Weekend sites are determined by teams' finish in the final 2026 ITA team rankings. Other 2027 sites include Virginia, Texas (outdoor site), Wake Forest, TCU, Ohio State, Arizona (outdoor site), LSU, Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas A&M (outdoor site), Georgia, UCF (outdoor site) and Illinois.
Starkville, Miss. Regional (outdoor site)
1. No. 6 Mississippi State
2. No. 20 USC
3. No. 39 North Carolina
4. No. 64 Tennessee
The field and draw for the regional was determined via the 2027 ITA Kickoff Weekend Draft on Thursday afternoon. In order of final 2026 ITA rankings, teams could select which regional they will be part of.
Carolina, seeded third in Starkville, will play second-seeded USC in its opening match on Saturday January 23, 2027, on the outdoor courts in Starkville. On Sunday January 24th, the UNC-USC winner will play the winner of top-seeded Mississippi State and fourth-seeded Tennessee, while the losers of the two Saturday matches will meet in a third-place match on Sunday.
The champion of the Starkville regional will advance to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in Clemson, S.C., and Columbia, S.C., on February 12-16, 2027.
The 19th annual Kickoff Weekend sites are determined by teams' finish in the final 2026 ITA team rankings. Other 2027 sites include Virginia, Texas (outdoor site), Wake Forest, TCU, Ohio State, Arizona (outdoor site), LSU, Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas A&M (outdoor site), Georgia, UCF (outdoor site) and Illinois.
Starkville, Miss. Regional (outdoor site)
1. No. 6 Mississippi State
2. No. 20 USC
3. No. 39 North Carolina
4. No. 64 Tennessee
Wednesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 17
Tuesday, June 16
Monday, June 15