ORANGEBURG, SC— The defending men's and women's Mid-Eastern Athletic Champion South Carolina State University will travel to the sunshine state once again to take on the University of Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tennis Championship Friday May 13, the NCAA Committee announced on Tuesday afternoon from Indianapolis.
The University of Florida men's and women's tennis teams both were chosen as one of 16 hosts of their respective NCAA First and Second Round Championship matches, with the running from May 13 to 15 at UF's Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex.
The seven-time defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Champion(MEAC) South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs(16-2) will face No.1 ranked Lady Gators of Florida (25-1), who received the No.2 seed in the 64-team draw, Saturday May 14 in the First Round contest beginning at 12 p.m. The winning team from the first-round match will meet in the second-round on Sunday, May 15 at 1 p.m.
It will be the third-ever meeting between Florida Lady Gators and the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs, which met in the first round of the 2006 and 2010 NCAA Tournament, with the Gators taking the 4-0 victory in Gainesville in both.
South Carolina State women's team is making its seventh-straight appearance of the NCAA Championships, while The Florida women's team is making its 29th appearance, of the 30-year history, missing only the 1986 event. The Lady Gators won NCAA team titles in 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2003 and have advanced to at least the NCAA Semifinals 19 times in the last 23 years.
On the men's side, Florida SEC Champion will meet South Carolina State, the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) for the second time in two years.
The Bulldogs (13-4) winners of the last seven-of-eight Mid-Eastern Athletic Championships will take on the No.8 ranked Gators of Florida (18-8) who received the seventh seed overall in the NCAA draw and the top seed in the Gainesville regional. South Carolina State will play Florida Friday May 13 at 1 p.m.in the opening round with the winner advancing to the second round.
South Carolina State University will honor and salute the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Tennis Champions with a send-off scheduled for Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. in the STATE Room (Hugine Suites).
Ticket Information:
Tickets may be purchased in advance or on each day of the tournament. An ALL-SESSION Pass is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for senior citizens, college students, and children under 17. SINGLE DAY tickets for Friday and Saturday are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for senior citizens, college students and children under 17. SINGLE DAY tickets for Sunday are $3.00 for everyone. Spectators interested in purchasing advance ALL-SESSION Pass may do so by contacting:
Gator Ticket Office
Post Office Box 14485
Gainesville, FL 32604
352/375-4683, ext. 6800
352/372-5801 (fax)
Tickets also are available for purchase online at www.Gatorzone.com/tickets
--30--
