XU To Face Ohio State In Opening Round Of NCAA Men's Tennis Championship; UR Women To Meet Duke

XU making second consecutive NCAA appearance; Spiders advance to NCAA Tourney for fifth time in the last six seasons

Doug Matthews, Xavier

April 28, 2009

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Gathered in the Cintas Center media room, the Xavier men's tennis team learned they will face Ohio State in the First Round of the 2009 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship, it was announced on ESPNews.

The Musketeers won the Atlantic 10 Conference title for the second straight season to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. XU will square off with the Buckeyes on Friday, May 8, at 1:00pm at the Stickney Tennis Center in Columbus.

XU finished the regular season with a 17-7 overall record, winning three straight at the A-10 Championship on its way to a second straight crown. The Musketeers defeated St. Bonaventure, 4-0, in the title match.

The senior trio of Mike Dieciuc, Ra'ees Ismail and Doug Matthews lead XU, all three ranking in the program's top five for career singles victories. Ismail is the most prolific among the three, with the most career singles, doubles and overall wins in program history.

On the women's side, A-10 champion Richmond will travel to Durham, N.C., to face third-seeded Duke on May 8 in the opening round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship at 2:00pm.

The Spiders downed Temple in the finals of the 2009 A-10 Championship, 4-0, to capture their sixth A-10 crown, including fifth in the last six seasons.

UR (17-5) is led by senior Pamela Duran, a three-time All-Conference selection who was victorious in No. 1 singles and second doubles in the Spiders win over Temple.