Men's Tennis Opens NCAA Tournament Friday
May 12, 2011
Miami Notes | NCAA Bracket | Live Stats | Gainesville Region Tournament Information
Coral Gables, Fla… The No. 27 University of Miami men’s tennis team opens NCAA Tournament competition versus No. 41 Nebraska on Fri., May 13, at 10 a.m. at the University of Florida’s Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville.
The Hurricanes (14-8, 8-3 ACC) are making their 45th NCAA Tournament appearance, 26th since 1977 and their fifth under seventh-year head coach Mario Rincon. Rincon has led Miami to a 5-4 mark in NCAA Tournament play with two Round of 16 appearances – including in the program’s last NCAA berth in 2009. That season, the Canes defeated Columbia in the NCAA’s opening round and then edged the host Gators in the regional finals to advance.
The Hurricanes and Cornhuskers (15-12, 1-6 Big 12) – who are making their second-straight postseason appearance – will square off for just the second time, with Miami winning the previous match between the programs.
Miami’s senior-laden squad, including All-American Carl Sundberg and Eduardo Pavia – who have won 20-or-more matches apiece this season, has come out on top in six of its last 10 matches. In addition, the Canes have nine wins over nationally-ranked opponents this season.
Nebraska, who is striving for its first-ever NCAA Tournament win in men’s tennis, has dropped six of its last seven matches entering Friday’s competition. Like Miami, the Huskers also have a pair of players with 20-plus wins in Benedikt LIndheim and Calin Paar. Nebraska has defeated six ranked opponents, with No. 38 Vanderbilt the highest-ranked team the Huskers have knocked off this season, 5-2, on Jan. 28.
The winner of Friday’s Miami-Nebraska match will advance to the regional finals to face the winner of the match between the host Florida (18-8) and South Carolina State (13-4) on Sat., May 14, at 3 p.m. The Gators ride a five-match win streak into the tournament and are making their 21st-straight NCAA appearance, while the Bulldogs are coming off their fourth consecutive MEAC title.
The 16 winners of each site advance to the NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship in Palo Alto, Calif., to be held from May 19-22.
NCAA Tournament tickets may be purchased in advance (352-375-4683) or on each day of the tournament. An all-session pass is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for senior citizens, college students and children under 17. Single-day tickets are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for senior citizens, college students and children under 17.
