INDIANAPOLIS – Swarthmore College has been selected to host the first three rounds of the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Tournament this weekend as announced by the NCAA on Monday afternoon.
The host Garnet received a first-round bye and will take on the winner of the matchup between North Carolina Wesleyan University and Houghton University on Saturday. The other first-round match sees Christopher Newport University taking on Baruch College with the winner advancing to play Tufts University.
Saturday's second-round winners will meet in the third round on Sunday. All match times for the weekend will be confirmed later this week. Sunday's victor will move on to the national quarterfinals at the Dwight Davis Memorial Tennis Center in St. Louis on May 21-24.
Swarthmore (21-1) earned an automatic bid by winning its second straight Centennial Conference title. It is the Garnet's 26
th NCAA Tournament appearance and they have won 13 in a row entering the tourney. Swarthmore has been ranked as high as ninth in the nation this season, which is its highest since the 2006 campaign. The Garnet's 21 victories is tied for the program single-season record.
North Carolina Wesleyan (16-8) was an automatic qualifier after winning the USA South Athletic Conference championship for the 15
th consecutive year. It is also the Bishops' 15
th trip to the NCAAs.
Houghton (9-4) won the Empire 8 Athletic Conference for the second season in a row and third time in the past four years. The Highlanders are making their third NCAA Tournament appearance. Houghton is on an eight-match win streak entering the tourney.
Christopher Newport (13-7) received one of three Pool B selections for teams in a conference ineligible for an automatic bid. The Captains reached the final of the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. They are in the national playoffs for the second consecutive year and fourth time overall.
Baruch (12-5) captured its sixth straight City University of New York Athletic Conference crown and 17
th in program history. The Bearcats are making their 12
th trip to NCAAs.
Tufts (16-6), last year's national runner-up, was awarded an at-large bid after falling in the New England Small College Athletic Conference final. The Jumbos are in the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row and ninth time overall.
NCAA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (SWARTHMORE REGION)
(Match times TBA)
Friday, May 10 – First Round
Christopher Newport vs. Baruch
North Carolina Wesleyan vs. Houghton
Saturday, May 11 – Second Round
Tufts vs. Christopher Newport/Baruch
Swarthmore vs. North Carolina Wesleyan/Houghton
Sunday, May 12 – Third Round
Second round winners
Click here to view the full tournament bracket.
