Hilltopper women to open Sweet Sixteen Play on Wednesday; Follow the action live
ALTA MONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - The 18th-ranked St. Edward's women's tennis team will open play in the NCAA Division Sweet Sixteen Wednesday afternoon at Sanlando Park. The tournament is hosted by Rollins College. Live stats, live audio, and some live video will be provided.
St. Edward's (18-6) have won 12 straight matches and ran through the South Central Regional with victories over #28 Central Oklahoma (5-1) and #21 Northeastern State (5-1).
"I am extremely happy for my senior Regina DelBosque to be part of the first women's tennis team in school history to qualify for the Sweet 16," Sterns said.
Freshman Audrey Tompkins, was awarded as the ITA South Central Region Rookie Player of the Year at the pre-tournament banquet Wednesday evening.
"With four freshman in our lineup and an all-Texan squad, some people would say that we would not be here," head coach Russell Sterns said. "All four freshmen in our lineup have made a significant contribution throughout the season. Audrey Tompkins may go down as one of the best players we have ever had at St. Edward's, and she is doing it as a freshman. To play at No. 1 singles and be part of a nationally-ranked doubles team is phenomenal. She reminds me a lot of how former SEU male tennis player Kendall Smashey made an impact as freshman and got the men's program headed in the right direction."
The Hilltoppers will take on defending national champion Armstrong Atlantic. The Pirates won last year's national championship in Houston, Texas by defeating BYU-Hawaii.
"I think we are playing really good tennis right now," Sterns said. "With how we beat Northeastern State in the regional final I won't put it past our girls to go into their match on Wednesday and knock off the defending national champions in Armstrong Atlantic."
"With the goals that Coach Boyce and I set at the beginning of the year, we have met all but one of them," Sterns said. "The last goal to be accomplished is winning the national championship. That goal is now within our grasps."
Sterns also received recognition at Wednesday's banquet as he was named ITA South Central Regional Coach of the Year.
The Hilltoppers will take on Armstrong Atlantic at 4:00 p.m. EST at Sanlando Park. Logan Lawrence will have live play-by-play action from Orlando, Fla. and live video will be available on select courts throughout the tournament.