Clemson Women’s Tennis Team To Host NCAA Women’s Tennis First And Second Rounds

May 4, 2005

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson women’s tennis team will play host to the first and second rounds of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Team Championships for the second time in school history. Last year marked the first time the Tigers hosted the regionals, with Clemson defeating Troy State and South Carolina on its home courts to advance to the round of 16 in Athens, GA. This year, Clemson enters the tournament as the #12 seed and will face Furman in first round action at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center. William & Mary and Wisconsin will face off in the other half of the Tigers’ draw. The first and second rounds of the tournament will be held May 13-15, and times for the matches will be released at a later date.

This is the 13th time in school history and the sixth time in Head Coach Nancy Harris’ eight seasons that the Tigers have advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Clemson advanced to the Final Four of the 2004 NCAA Tournament, the first women’s team in school history to advance to a national semifinal tournament.

The Tigers own a 17-8 record so far this season, with victories over 16 opponents ranked among the top 71 teams in the nation. Of the 24 opponents the Tigers have played the season, 23 have been ranked by the ITA when they faced Clemson, and 16 fell to the Tigers. Clemson has won 13 of its last 15 matches, with both losses to the University of Miami (FL).

The Tigers hold a 34-3 all-time advantage over the Paladins, including a 20-1 mark over Furman at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center. The two teams most recently met during the 2004 season, with Clemson winning the contest by a score 7-0 in Greenville. This year marks the first time the teams have met in post-season play.

William & Mary enters the tournament with a 19-5 overall record. The Tigers and The Tribe met earlier this season in Williamsburg, VA, with The Tribe earning a 6-1 victory over an injury-depleted Clemson team. Overall, Clemson and William & Mary have met on the court only four times, with each team winning two contests. They have only faced each other once in the post-season, with the Tigers winning that 2002 regional match-up by a score of 4-3 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Wisconsin has posted a 15-8 overall record entering post-season play. The Badgers have played the Tigers only twice, with Clemson claiming both contests on neutral site courts. In 1985, Clemson defeated Wisconsin by a score of 6-3 in the first match of the year at the USC Invitational (Columbia, SC). The Tigers picked up their second victory over the Badgers with another 6-3 win again at the USC Invitational (Columbia, SC).