Wake Forest Athletics
Men's Tennis Earns Fifth Straight NCAA Tournament Bid
5/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
May 4, 2005
Winston-Salem, N.C. - For the fifth straight year, Wake Forest has received a bid to compete in the NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon. The 17th-ranked Demon Deacons will take on 45th-ranked TCU (8-14) in the first round hosted by Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, on Saturday, May 14 at 3:00 p.m. central time.
If Wake Forest (16-6) advances, the Deacs would play either 14th-seeded and 15th-ranked Texas Tech (23-3) or Army (21-4), the Patriot League champions, on Sunday, May 15 at 1:00 p.m.
The Demon Deacons have not met the Horned Frogs since 1988 when Wake Forest traveled to Fort Worth and lost, 6-3. Wake Forest has never faced Texas Tech or Army.
"We are very excited to be going back to the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight year. I think we are taking the best team and the most confident team we've had during my years at Wake Forest," said head coach Jeff Zinn. "We have a lot of respect for the teams we will see in Lubbock. TCU has been a nationally-prominent program for years. Texas Tech deserves to host given their outstanding season and Army won the Patriot League. Our team is very excited and we can't wait to get started."
Of Wake Forest's 20 regular season opponents, 12 made the NCAA's field of 64. That list includes Brown, Clemson, Duke, East Tennessee State, Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Virginia, VCU and William & Mary. In matches against NCAA Tournament teams, the Deacons went 8-6.
Wake Forest is making its sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and owns a 1-4 all-time record in the event. Last season, the Deacons lost in the first round to Mississippi State, 4-2. Wake Forest is seeking its first ever trip to the Sweet 16 to be hosted by Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.
For more information on the 2005 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship, visit www.ncaasports.com.
