Crimson Tide Tennis Prepares for Blue-Gray Classic
3/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The UA men’s tennis team will get an NCAA Tournament feel Thursday, beginning play in the 2004 Blue-Gray National Collegiate Classic against William & Mary at 2:30 p.m. at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.
The 16-team tournament format, which mirrors that of the NCAA “Sweet 16”, requires the tournament champion to win a grueling four matches in four days. Alabama is looking to rebound from two one-point losses over the weekend in Southeastern Conference opening play.
“Going into the Blue-Gray should be a good opportunity to step out of conference play and bolster our national position and be successful there,” Alabama head coach Billy Pate said, “but No. 1, we have a very difficult match with William and Mary, who is very good in doubles and balanced throughout their lineup. We need to focus on that 100% now and see how it goes.
The tournament also has two consolation rounds, guaranteeing each team at least three matches. Alabama will play either Louisville or North Carolina on Friday. The tourney field is led by 11th-ranked VCU, and seeded teams No. 14 Harvard, No. 21 North Carolina and No. 27 Mississippi State.
“We know what we capable of,” Pate said. “We’re possibly two points away from wining two matches and being top in the Top 15. I feel good about where we are as a team, yet we still have to close out matches, get better in doubles and mature as a team with the young guys we have.”
A complete Schedule of Thursday’s matches is below:
Match (team ranking)
9 a.m.
N.C. State vs. Tulane (40)
No. 4 seed Mississippi State (27) vs. Colorado
11 a.m.
No. 2 seed Harvard (14) vs. Middle Tennessee (57)
Boise State (35) vs. Old Dominion (67)
2:30 p.m.
No. 3 seed North Carolina (21) vs. Louisville (55)
Alabama (34) vs. William & Mary (47)
5:30 p.m.
No. 1 seed Virginia Commonwealth (11) vs. Brown (52)
Notre Dame (44) vs. Fresno State (30)
