COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University men's and women's tennis teams will each go for their third consecutive championship, as the Peach Belt Conference Tournament get underway Friday. The tournament is being played at Francis Marion in Florence, S.C.

The top-ranked and top-seeded men will play eighth-seeded Francis Marion at 9 a.m., while the fourth-ranked and top-seeded CSU women will take on eighth-seeded Lander Friday at noon. 

The Cougar men have an opportunity to match their third consecutive regular season title with a potential third straight tournament championship. CSU ended the regular season on a seven match winning streak with a 20-2 overall record. The Cougars were unbeaten in nine PBC matches, with no match closer than 5-2. 

Columbus State and Francis Marion just met to close out the regular season on Saturday, April 13. The Cougars swept the three doubles courts and took all six singles in straight-sets en route to their 7-0 sweep over the Patriots. 

The Lady Cougars also have a chance to make it three PBC Tournament championships in a row. They enter as the favorite after putting together their third-straight season without a loss in conference play going 19-4 overall and 9-0 inside the Peach Belt. They've won 40-consecutive games against conference opponents including postseason play dating back to 2016. 

The Bearcats and Lady Cougars met on April 12 at the Walden Tennis Center with CSU sweeping Lander 7-0. Columbus State has won seven consecutive matches against the Bearcats and haven't lost to them since 2013. 

The quarterfinal round will be played on Friday, with the semifinals on Saturday and championship matches on Sunday. All men's matches will be played at 9 a.m. throughout the weekend, with the women's matches scheduled for 12 p.m.