TIFTON, Ga. — The calendar has turned from April to May and with it, the two busiest weeks of the year for Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Dale White.

White, head coach of the Fillies and Stallions tennis teams, was loading up the van Thursday morning in preparations for a drive to Waco, Texas. The NJCAA national women’s tournament will be at the Waco Regional Tennis Center starting Sunday.

As soon as that tournament finishes May 10, the men’s competition begins in Plano. In the past, White has flown home with one team and escorted the other back to Texas. This year, the men are on their own and White will drive them back at the conclusion of their championships.

White estimated a 14-hour drive to Waco. It will be the first time he has traveled there with the Fillies. They will arrive with a No. 5 ranking from the latest polls from Oracle/ITA and the NJCAA.

“I think we can finish higher than that,” said White. “It’s just a matter of winning close matches.”

Three Fillies are ranked by Oracle/ITA in the April 19 national singles rankings, as well as two doubles teams.

Celia Morel is at the top of that list for ABAC with a No. 6 ranking and her pairing with Julia Tozzi is ranked eighth. Vasevi Ganesan Shanthi is No. 16 nationally in singles and Agustina Diaz is No. 46. Diaz and Ganesan Shanthi have a No. 23 ranking in doubles.

White tinkered with his doubles lineups often early in the season. He thinks he is set now.

“We had to work out who works best with who,” he said.

White said the Fillies were fortunate to have a deep roster. “I’ve been lucky with the girls to have more than six (players),” he said.

Pairings will be announced Saturday for the tournament.

Morel and Mathilde Lirzin both advanced to the quarterfinals in their singles flights in 2017, with Cyrielle Peyroche making it all the way to the semifinals. Peyroche and Melissa Ariza were additionally consolation champions in their doubles flight.

White is hopeful Peyroche can improve on her showing. He thinks at least two players have an excellent chance of making the finals.

Texas-based Tyler Junior College is the No. 1 team in the nation. ABAC had a chance to see what Tyler could do in March when the two schools squared off against one another.

Tyler won all nine matches, but White said several matchups were close. Few opponents have been able to touch Tyler. The junior college is 12-1 in spring competition. The only loss was 4-3 to Southern Methodist, not only a major Division I four-year school, but one that is no pushover on the courts. The Lady Mustangs are 17-9.