Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs Open NCAA Tournament Against Eastern Kentucky
4/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 28, 2009
2009 NCAA Tournament Bracket
GALLERY
FRESNO, Calif. - With media and supporters in attendance with the Fresno State women's tennis team, the No. 16 Bulldogs heard the announcement that they will travel to Urbana, Ill., to face Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, May 9 for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Match times will be determined in the coming days.
The Bulldogs, the No. 16 overall seed in the tournament, earned an automatic bid by winning the WAC Tournament. They were grouped with Eastern Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Illinois for the Regionals of the NCAA Tournament. The Fresno State/EKU winner will face the winner of the Vanderbilt and Illinois match on Sunday.
In past years the Top 16 teams hosted automatically, however this year because of the economy the NCAA has elected to alter the hosting schools to accommodate the traveling schools for financial reasons.
"Our team has faced a lot of adversity all year, we're ready to travel," head coach Simon Thibodeau said. "We've faced some good teams on the road this year. We'll be ready to go as the top seed in our regional and win the bracket."
The matchup with Eastern Kentucky marks the 14th-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament for Fresno State.
The Bulldogs have never faced Eastern Kentucky before. Although unranked, the Colonels boast an impressive 22-5 record on the year. Eastern Kentucky is currently riding an 11-match winning streak and earned an automatic bid by winning the Ohio Valley Conference Championship.
Fresno State is also carrying some momentum after winning its last 13 matches, including a challenging conference tournament that the Bulldogs won with a 4-3 match against then ranked No. 36 Boise State in the championship.
"The WAC Championship was a lot closer than we were expecting, but we stuck in there and bonded as a team," Fresno State freshman Laura Pola said. "It was a team growing experience and a good chance for us to form a closer bond for the NCAA Tournament."
The other two teams in the bracket are relatively new faces for the Bulldogs.
Fresno State and Illinois have only met once before - an 8-1 Illini victory in 1985. Illinois is 18-7 on the year and earned an at-large bid after falling to Michigan, 4-3, in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Bulldogs faced Vanderbilt for the first time in school history this Spring for the second round of the ITA National Team Indoors Qualifications. Fresno State took a 1-0 edge in the series with a 4-0 shutout.
The Commodores are 11-8 on the year and earned an at-large bid after being defeated by Florida, 4-2, in the SEC Tournament.
The Bulldogs were also the No. 16 seed in 2008 and advanced to the Sweet 16.
The WAC is represented by two teams, as No. 35 Boise State earned an at-large bid for the third-straight year and will face Alabama in the first round.
The participants of the NCAA Singles and Doubles Tournament will be announced tomorrow.
"Join the State - Fresno State" - The Bulldogs travel to Urbana, Ill., for an NCAA Opening Round matchup against Eastern Kentucky. Follow the 'Dogs throughout the season on www.gobulldogs.com.
Players Mentioned
