Wednesday, April 25, 2007

TUSCULUM EARNS BID TO NCAA MEN'S TENNIS TOURNAMENT, PIONEERS TO FACE NO. 11 BARRY

INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College men's tennis team has earned an at-large bid to the 2007 NCAA Division II Tournament announced officials Wednesday night. The Pioneers (15-6) will open first round action at No. 11 Barry University (13-2) in Miami Shores, Fla. Day and time of the match have yet to be announced.

Tusculum will be making its fifth NCAA postseason appearance since 2002 and the match with Barry will mark the third time that the Pioneers and Buccaneers have met in the opening round (2004, 2005).

Head coach Tommy Arnett has led the Pioneers to the NCAA Tournament in five of his six seasons at the Greeneville, Tenn. school. During his watch, the Tusculum men have posted an 85-39 record and are currently ranked No. 39 in the nation in NCAA II.

Tusculum is led by the All-South Atlantic Conference duo of Sergio Espinosa and Carlos Garcia. Espinosa, a three-time All-SAC selection, has posted a 14-5 singles record and is currently ranked No. 15 in the NCAA Southeast Region. Garcia, a three-time All-Conference honoree, has posted a season of perfection, as he is 18-0 in singles play this year.

The Venezuelan duo is 16-5 in doubles and is the eighth-ranked pairing in the region.

The winner of the Tusculum/Barry match will face either Rollins College or Presbyterian College in the second round.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of nine colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

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