Hurricanes Set to Host NCAA Regional for Second Consecutive Season
May 3, 2006
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla.– The University of Miami women’s tennis team earned a bid to host an NCAA Regional for the second consecutive season when the field of 64 teams was selected for the NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Championships Wednesday by the NCAA Selection Committee. The seventh-seeded Hurricanes will host Florida International, BostonUniversity and Iowa in the first and second rounds May 12-13 at the NeilSchiffTennisCenter. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
In first round action, the Hurricanes will face Boston Friday, May 12 at 1:00 p.m. after Iowa squares off against FIU at 10:00 a.m. The winner of each first round match advances to Saturday’s second round at 3:00 p.m.
“We are excited about having the opportunity of hosting the first and second rounds of the NCAA Championships on campus,” said head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews. “Our players always seem to respond well to playing on our home courts.”
Seventh ranked Miami (19-6, 9-2 ACC) has reached the NCAA Tournament for the 11th consecutive season, highlighting that run was when the 2004 team reached the Quarterfinals for the first time since 1986. Miami has made 20 appearances in the NCAA Tournament posting a 19-20 all-time record. Last season, the Hurricanes defeated Florida Atlantic in the first-round before falling to California in the second-round.
Nine teams represent the Atlantic Coast Conference in the field of 64, with five teams drawing an overall seed. Sixth seeded Georgia Tech, who garnered the league’s automatic bid after winning the ACC Championship, is the highest seeded ACC team followed by No. 7 Miami, No. 8 Duke, No. 9 North Carolina and No. 15 Clemson. Also earning at large bids were Wake Forest, Maryland, Virginia and NC State.
Stanford, the defending NCAA Champion, earned the top seed. Notre Dame is seeded second followed by Southern California who enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed. Rounding out the Top 16 are: Florida, Baylor, Georgia Tech, Miami, Duke, North Carolina, California, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Pepperdine, Virginia Commonwealth, Clemson and TCU.
First and second round competition will be conducted May 12-13 in 16 campus sites around the country. The winner of each site will advance to the Round of 16 beginning May 18 at StanfordUniversity, who serves as the host for the remainder of the NCAA Tournament concluding with the championship match May 22.
Tickets to the first and second round matches are just $5 dollars for adults and $3 dollars for children and senior citizens. To purchase tickets or for additional information please contact the Hurricane Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES or visit online at hurricanesports.com.
Coral Gables Regional – Coral Gables Fla.
Friday, May 12
Match 1: FIU vs. Iowa- 10:00 a.m.
Match 2: BostonU. vs. Miami – 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 13
Match 3: Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2 – 3:00 p.m.
