May 4, 2005
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State's men's and women's tennis programs were selected to participate in the 2005 NCAA Team Tennis Championships Wednesday afternoon. The men's team will be making their sixth appearance at the annual postseason tournament, while the women's squad will appear for an 18th time.
The men's team (17-5), who earned an automatic berth after winning the 2005 Mountain West Conference Championship last weekend, will take on the Pac-10's California Golden Bears (10-9) at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the campus of UCLA.
"This is a great chance to extend our season and we are very excited about our first round match-up against Cal," men's head coach Gene Carswell said.
Winners of 13 straight, the Aztecs are making their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2003, when they advanced to the second round before falling to Washington, 4-3.
The women's team (16-10) will face Arizona State (10-7) in a first round match-up at Marks Stadium on the campus of Southern California. SDSU earned an at-large berth after advancing to the semifinals of the MWC Championship last weekend at Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego.
"We are happy that we were selected as one of the 64 teams in the tournament," women's head coach Peter Mattera said. "This is a great reward for such a great season."
The Aztec women are returning to the NCAA tournament after a one-year hiatus. The team last made the tournament in 2003, losing to Fresno State, 4-0, in Tempe, Ariz.
Back in 1996, SDSU took on the Sun Devils before falling, 5-4, in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Malibu, Calif. The Aztecs are 14-11 all-time versus Arizona State.
The men's team is scheduled to play May 14, while the women's first round match is slated for May 13. Both matches will begin at 9 a.m.