EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 36th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's tennis team received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the second straight season and the eighth time in the history of the program. USI (14-7) begins national post-season play in the Midwest Preliminary Round May 1 at 1 p.m. against Wayne State University (17-6) in Springfield, Missouri.

 

USI is the third seed in the Midwest, while Wayne State is seeded sixth. The winner of the USI-WSU match plays second-seeded Drury University (16-4), who is hosting one half of the Midwest Preliminary Rounds, May 2 at 10 a.m.

 

Top-seeded Rockhurst University (20-3) is hosting the other half of the Midwest's preliminary rounds in Kansas City, Missouri. The Hawks play the winner of fourth-seeded Northwood University (15-4) and fifth-seeded Northern Kentucky University (15-4).

 

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 11-14

 

The Screaming Eagles are coming off a second-place finish in the GLVC Tournament, falling to Rockhurst, 5-3, in the championship match. USI advanced to the finals after defeating the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 5-0, and shocking Drury, 5-4.

 

The Eagles, who have won seven of the last nine matches, are led by sophomore Juan Quiroz (Valencia, Venezuela). Quiroz, who was named All-GLVC East Division, is 19-5 in singles and has posted an 11-0 mark at number two singles.

 

Quiroz also has combined with All-GLVC and All-GLVC East Division junior Diego Gimenez (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) for a 7-1 doubles mark, posting a 3-1 record at number one doubles and a 4-0 mark at number two doubles.

 

Gimenez sits on top of the USI singles' line-up with a 12-10 mark in 2010-11. He was 10-9 at number one singles.

 

In addition to Gimenez and Quiroz, the Boesing brothers complete the top of the USI singles and doubles lineups. Senior Joseph Boesing (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) reached 16-3 in the GLVC Championship, posting a 9-0 mark at number three singles and a 6-2 record in number four singles. Sophomore Ben Boesing (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) was a blistering 15-2, going 6-1 at number four singles and 8-1 at number five singles.