Tigers Earn 15th Straight NCAA Tournament Bid, Face Rice in Nashville in First Round

CLEMSON, S.C. – For the 15^th consecutive year and the 24^th time in program history, the Clemson women’s tennis team has received a bid to play in the NCAA Championships. The Tigers, ranked 31^st nationally, are the number-two-seed in the Nashville Regional, and will travel to Nashville, Tenn. for the first and second rounds of the tournament on May 13-15.

NASHVILLE REGIONAL SCHEDULE

Friday, May 131 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET) – Clemson vs. Rice4 p.m. CT (5 p.m. ET) – Vanderbilt vs. SIUE

Saturday, May 141 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET) – Second Round Match

Joining Clemson in the region are Conference-USA Champion Rice (13-9), Ohio Valley Conference Champion SIU Edwardsville (19-4) and regional-host and sixth-ranked Vanderbilt (19-5). The Tigers face the Owls in the first round. The winner advances to play the winner of Vanderbilt and SIU-Edwardsville in the second round.

Clemson is 10-10 overall, finished the ACC regular season at 8-6 and is ranked 31^st nationally according to the most recent ITA poll. Two Tiger singles players are ranked in the top-100 in the nation, Joana Eidukonyte at 24^th and Ayan Broomfield at 52^nd. Broomfield, who was named ACC Freshman of the Year on April 21, is one of four freshmen that have played a significant role in the Clemson lineup in 2016.

The NCAA tournament bid is the 17^th in 19 seasons under Head Coach Nancy Harris. In the last 12 seasons, Clemson has reached at least the Round of 16 10 times under Harris, including the program’s two best finishes in the national tournament, back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2004 and 2005.  The Tigers have a 28-16 record in the NCAA tournament in 16 appearances with Harris leading the program.

The NCAA takes 64 teams to the annual tournament, which is held on campus sites for the first two rounds, taking place May 13-15. The top team from each of the 16 sites advances to the NCAA Team Championships in Tulsa, Okla. May 19-24.