After winning its third consecutive Missouri Valley Conference title, the Illinois State womens tennis team will look to continue its run in the NCAA tournament against the University of California Los Angeles, currently ranked #10 in the country.
2005 NCAA tourney action begins for Illinois State on May 13 with round one, and continues May 14 with round two. The Birds will take the court against the Bruins at 3 p.m. central time, with the winner advancing to round two competition.
This marks the Redbirds third consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament, as they lost in 2004 in the first round to California-Berkley 4-0, and also suffered a 4-0 loss at the hands of Virginia Commonwealth in 2003. The Birds will be fighting UCLA for their first NCAA tournament win in the past three seasons.
Illinois State will keep its winning line-up from the Valley tournament for NCAA competition, with senior Laura Gravino playing in the No. 1 position, senior Elizabeth Bingier at the No. 2 spot, freshman Veronique Parke-Bedard in the No. 3, and junior Emilie Sechaud playing in the No. 4 spot. Freshman Carolyne Parent will compete at the No. 5 position, while sophomore Matea Simovic will round out the Redbird singles squad at the No. 6 spot.
In doubles action the Redbird duo of Gravino and Parent will lead the team in the No. 1 spot, while Parke-Bedard will pair with Ashley Maxwell at the No. 2 position, and Bingier and Simovic will attempt to improve their undefeated 5-0 record in the No. 3 flight.
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