Tide Set to Battle South Alabama in NCAA Tournament
5/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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The Alabama women's tennis team will make its fifth consecutive appearance, seventh overall, in the NCAA tournament Friday morning at 11 a.m. when it takes on South Alabama in the opening round in Nashville, Tenn.
The Crimson Tide is the No. 3 seed in the four-team Nashville Regional. South Alabama is the region's No. 2 seed.
"We're ready to play," Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz said. "We've had good practices leading up to this and I think we're prepared mentally."
This will be the second time that the Tide and Jaguars have met in the last month. USA defeated Alabama 4-3 on April 13 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama leads the all-time series 18-9. The April 13 meeting was decided on the day's final match. After Alabama took a 3-1 lead, the Jaguars battled back and USA's Dijana Stanic defeated Alabama's Andrea Brenes at No. 6 for the win.
Alabama has been led this season by its top two players, Robin Stephenson and Ashley Bentley, both of whom have earned individual bids into the NCAA singles championship. The duo is a combined 49-21 this season with 18 wins over ranked opponents. They each earned straight-set wins in the first meeting with USA.
Alabama is 4-6 all-time in the NCAA tournament and 4-2 in the first round. A win would advance the Tide to the second round for the fourth time in five seasons and fifth time in school history. If Alabama wins Friday it would turn around and play the winner of the Vanderbilt vs. UT Martin match Saturday at 1 p.m.
Live stats will be available at www.vucommodores.com as well as www.rolltide.com.
