NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships Begin Wednesday in Waco
5/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
WACO, Texas -- Reigning NCAA Doubles National Champions, Maya Jansen and Erin Routliffe will look to defend their title as the No. 1 seed in the 2015 NCAA Doubles Championship when action kicks off on Thursday morning at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas. Jansen and Routliffe top the field of 32 pairings selected by the NCAA Division I subcommittee to compete for the NCAA doubles crown. Routliffe also received an at-large selection into the NCAA Singles Championship which begins Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.
"I'm encouraged with Maya and Erin leading into the National Championships as the top seed in the doubles draw," said Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz. "They have earned this seeding with their almost impeccable record. They continue to improve as a team and complement one another very well on the court. The exciting part is that I feel they can keep getting better."
The Crimson Tide's No. 1 duo for the entire 2014-15 season, Routliffe and Jansen ended the dual match season with a commanding 19-2 (9-1 SEC) record and ranked atop of the ITA Division I Doubles Rankings. The pairing defeated three Top 10 teams throughout the season and carried a perfect 15-0 record into week nine of the conference season.
Jansen and Routliffe are slated to face off with Texas-Arlington's Angeles de los Rios and Elizabeth Thoms on Thursday morning at 10 a.m.
Playing at the No. 1 singles position for the duration of the 2014-15 season, Routliffe becomes the 17th NCAA singles qualifier in the history of the Alabama women's tennis program. Jansen was selected as the eighth alternate in the NCAA Singles Championship.
"I'm pleased that Erin will get the opportunity to play in the NCAA Singles Competition as I feel she has the game, confidence and mindset to continue elevating her play," added Mainz.
Routliffe will square off with Duke's Ester Goldfeld in the opening round of 64 on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.
In all, Alabama has had 17 NCAA singles qualifiers and 13 doubles contenders in program history. Last season Routliffe and Jansen won Alabama's first NCAA National Championship, while Alexa Guarachi owns the best NCAA Singles Championship ledger, advancing to the tournament's semifinal round in 2013.
The singles and doubles competition will be conducted May 20-25 at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas, following the conclusion of the team championship, which runs from May 15-19.
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Players Mentioned
