University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Tennis Awaits NCAA Tournament Fate
April 30, 2001 | Men's Tennis
April 30, 2001
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - ids to the 2001 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship will be announced this Thursday at 4 p.m.
Coach Sam Paul's Tar Heels are hoping to gain a berth in the championship field for the seventh time in Paul's eight seasons as the head coach at North Carolina.
Prior to 1977 bids to the NCAA Tennis Championship were issued to individuals and team champions were determined by a point system. Since 1977 the NCAA has conducted a separate team tournament, singles tournament and doubles tournament.
Since the format was changed in 1977 Carolina has received a bid to the Championships in 1977, 1978, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2000. The farthest Carolina has advanced was the quarterfinals in 1992.
This year's tournament will include 64 teams. Sixteen four-team regionals will be conducted at the sites of the top 16 seeds on the weekend of May 11-13. The sixteen regional winners will advance to the NCAA Championships at Athens, Ga. beginning the following week.
Carolina is well positioned to earn a bid as the Tar Heels finished in a tie for second place in the regular season ACC standings at 6-2. Carolina's strength of schedule is also expected to help earn the Tar Heels a bid. UNC finished the regular season with an overall mark of 11-8. The Tar Heels have posted a winning record every year since 1989 with the exception of 1999.
You can check out TarHeelBlue.com on Thursday to see Carolina's fate. To view the full 64-team bracket on Thursday check out www.ncaachampionships.com.
