University of Houston Team Page
HOUSTON--- The Cougars made history on Tuesday, as they were selected to participate in the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in program history. Houston will travel to College Station, Texas, to take on the University of Texas in the first round of the NCAA Championships, on Friday, May 9 at 11 a.m. CT.
Houston hasn't played in an NCAA Tournament match since the 1998 campaign, while it is 2-2 (.500) all-time in tournament action and 2-0 all-time against teams from the state of Texas in postseason play.
The Cougars (21-5) enter the NCAA Tournament as the American Athletic Conference's runner-up, falling just short of claiming the league's first-ever title. The postseason selection marks the program's second at-large selection, as Houston's previous two postseason selections came in the form of an at-large bid in 1997 and an automatic bid in 1998, by virtue of winning the Conference USA Tournament Championship.
Houston's 21 wins this season are the most since 2006 and just two shy of equaling the school record for victories in a season (23 in 1990). The Cougars have claimed a program-record five wins over ranked opponents this season, while at one point garnering a No. 21 national ranking back on March 4. The ranking was the highest in recorded school history.
Texas (12-12) enters the tournament field as an at-large team from the Big 12. The Longhorns are ranked No. 22 in the latest ITA rankings and are making their 32nd straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
This will be the second meeting of the season between the Cougars and Longhorns, as Texas earned a 5-0 victory over Houston back on Feb. 28. Houston is 0-20 all-time against the Longhorns.
Host Texas A&M, Texas, Houston, and Stony Brook are the four teams that make up the College Station Regional.
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Fans can keep up with the latest in Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougarSports), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the women's tennis team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonCougarTennis) and Twitter pages (@UHCougarTennis).
Houston's History in the Postseason
1997- NCAA Tournament Second Round | At-Large Bid (19-6)
May 9 vs. TCU (W, 5-2) | Southwest Regional First Round (Houston, Texas)
May 10 vs. Tennessee (L, 0-5) | Southwest Regional Second Round (Houston, Texas)
1998- NCAA Tournament Second Round | Automatic Bid (C-USA Tournament Champions, 13-11)
May 5 vs. Texas A&M (W, 5-3) | Southwest Regional First Round (Baton Rouge, La.)
May 16 vs. Arkansas (L, 0-5) | Southwest Regional Second Round (Baton Rouge, La.)
