Tampa Tennis Set to Compete at NCAA South Regional

Tampa Tennis NCAA Tournament Preview
Tampa Tennis NCAA Tournament Preview
May 9, 2024

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - The University of Tampa tennis team is set to open play at the 2024 NCAA Division II South Regional. The opening round will pit the No. 5 Spartans against No. 4 seed Embry-Riddle University.

The Spartans will play the Eagles on Friday at noon at the Buccaneer Tennis Center. Live stats and video will be available.

Top seed Barry University will host the opening two rounds, as the winner of the Tampa-Embry-Riddle match will advance to play the winner of the match between No. 1 Barry and No. 8 Tuskegee. Click here for complete information through the Barry University host site.

The marks the second appearance for Tampa in the NCAA Tournament, and its first since 2007. In 2007, Tampa faced host Nova Southeastern and suffered a 5-0 defeat.

Tampa enters the NCAA tournament with an overall record of 15-4 after going 6-3 in the Sunshine State Conference. After beginning the season at No. 25 in the ITA Tennis preseason poll, head coach Al Dufaux's Spartans have been ranked all season and are currently No. 9 in the nation.

The Eagles are currently No. 5 in the nation, as this marks the third meeting of the season between the SSC opponents. In the regular season matchup, the Eagles took a 4-3 win in Daytona Beach. The same teams would meet in the SSC Tournament quarterfinals as ERAU won 4-2. Embry-Riddle enters with a 16-7 overall record. The Eagles are led by Itxaso Blanco, who is No. 27 in the nation. Maja Issler is also nationally ranked at No. 52. In doubles, the duo of Blanco and Laura Cuesta are No. 4 in the nation.

Tampa is led by graduate student Julie Ball, who is ranked as the No. 28 singles player in the nation. The first-team all-SSC selection is also ranked No. 23 in the nation in doubles with her partner Victoria Sanchez. In doubles, the duo earned a spot on the all-SSC first team as they have compiled a record of 13-6 in 2024. Ball also brings an impressive 14-3 singles record, going 8-2 at number one and 6-1 at number two this season. Second-team all-SSC selection Savannah Williams is 16-3 on the season, and will compete at the number three singles spot.