No. 8 Seed Tide Gears up for NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships
Alabama and Army to meet in the first round on Friday at 4 p.m. CT
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The eighth-seeded Alabama women’s tennis team is set to take on Army in the First Round of the 2012 NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships, which will begin at 4 p.m. CT on Friday at the Alabama Tennis Stadium. That match is preceded by the Georgia Tech/Oklahoma State contest that will take place at 1 p.m. CT
“I think this is going to be a great regional,” said Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz. “I’ve said all along that, arguably, this is one of the best sites anywhere in the country. We feel fortunate to host it, and I think it is going to be exciting for the fans. Our team is really excited. We’ve been playing good tennis, and we’re going to make sure to stay the course and be ready to go on Friday.”
This marks the 11th NCAA Championship appearance for Alabama (17-4) and the ninth under Mainz. In addition, this is the first time the Tide has been selected to host a First and Second Round in program history.
Last season, Alabama won its opening contest in the tournament, defeating Utah, 4-0, before falling to the No. 8 seed Georgia Bulldogs, 4-0, in the second round. The Tide will be looking to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time as Alabama’s top finish in the 64-team field has been the second round on five occasions.
Army, the automatic qualifier from the Patriot League, enters the tournament with a 22-6 record, with its most recent win coming over top-seeded Navy to win its conference championship. This will be the Black Knights’ 11th trip to the NCAA Championship. Army is 0-10 overall in the tournament, which includes last season’s 4-0 loss at Virginia.
“We are thrilled to be hosting,” added Mainz. “I think it is going to be a great match. I know Army has worked hard to get here, and this is not their first rodeo.”
The winners of both first round matches will meet on Saturday, May 12, at 1 p.m. for the opportunity to advance onto the Round of 16, which will take place on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. beginning May 17.
Tickets for the First and Second Rounds are available on RollTide.com or by visiting or calling the Alabama Ticket Office at 1-877-TIDETIX. In addition, tickets will be on sale at the gate on May 11 and 12. The cost per session is $5 for adults and $3 for children.
SCHEDULE OF PLAY
Friday, May 11
1 p.m. – Georgia Tech vs. Oklahoma State
4 p.m. – Alabama vs. Army
Saturday, May 12
1 p.m. – Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2
