Men’s Tennis Receives NCAA Tournament Bid for 13th-Straight Year

NCAA REGIONAL WEBSITE

St. Louis, Mo., May 7, 2012 — The No. 15 ranked Washington University in St. Louis men’s tennis team will travel to Whitewater, Wis., to compete in the Central Regional of the 2012 NCAA Division III Championship on Friday-Sunday, May 11-13, at the Wangerin Tennis Courts. The Bears are the top seed in the six-team regional and the No. 8 seed in the NCAA Championship.

The Bears, who are headed to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th-straight season, received an at-large bid to the tournament after falling to No. 2 ranked Emory University, 8-1, in the 2012 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship on April 28 in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

No. 4 seed and 30th ranked Coe College (22-7) and No. 5 seed Grinnell College (24-6) will meet on Friday at 10 a.m. in the opening match, with the winner facing top-seeded Washington University on Saturday at 9 a.m.

No. 3 seed and No. 30 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (21-7) squares off with No. 6 seed Concordia University (Wis.) (14-10) on Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the second opening round match, with the winner to meet No. 2 seed and 26th ranked Gustavus Adolphus College (20-7) on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Washington University is making its 17th NCAA appearance, and 14th as a Division III institution. The Bears have advanced to the quarterfinals five-straight years and eight times in school history –1986, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 – and won the 2008 NCAA Division III National Championship. Washington U. has an overall record of 23-14 (.622) in 13 trips to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Washington U. is one of two UAA squads selected for the NCAA Championship. Emory received the UAA’s automatic bid and will host regional play in Atlanta, Ga., on May 11-13.

Meredith College and the Town of Cary will host the team championships finals, which will be held May 21-23 at the Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C.