EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's tennis team received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 2005. USI (19-4), which is making its seventh appearance overall in the tournament, begins national post-season play May 6 at 2 p.m. (CDT) against Ferris State University (11-7) in Midland, Michigan.
Northwood University (13-4), which is scheduled to play Lewis University (16-7), is hosting one of the preliminary rounds for the Midwest Region for the seventh straight year. The preliminary round finale is scheduled for May 7 at noon.
Drury University (15-4), the GLVC champion, is hosting the other Midwest preliminary rounds in Springfield, Missouri, May 7-8. The Panthers host Michigan Tech University (10-9), while Rockhurst University plays Wayne State University (15-7) in the first round.
The winners of the 16 preliminary-rounds advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament Championship in Altamonte Springs, Florida, hosted by the Central Florida Sports Commission and Rollins College, May 12-15.
The Screaming Eagles are under the direction of GLVC Coach of the Year Chris Crawford, who is in his first season at the helm. Crawford also has three All-GLVC performers in the line-up in junior Joseph Boesing, sophomore Diego Gimenez, and freshman Juan Quiroz.
Boeing is 19-2 in 2009-10 playing in the number three singles position. He also has posted an 18-1 mark in dual matches.
In doubles action, Boesing has paired with Gimenez to record a 25-5 overall record. The pair, which won the Wilson/ITA Championships Midwest Region title last fall, is 19-3 in dual matches.
As an individual, Gimenez is 9-12 this year as USI's number one player in the line-up. He also is 7-11 in dual-match contests.
Quiroz is having an impressive freshman season, going 19-6 in 2009-10. The number two singles player in the line-up is 16-5 in dual matches.
The first-year player also combined with three different doubles partners to post a 21-5 record. Quiroz and freshman Ben Boesing have combined to go 17-4 in dual matches as USI's number two doubles team.
