April 29, 2008

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Patriot League-champion Navy tennis team will travel to Gainesville, Fla., to open the NCAA Tournament against region-host and the tournament's 10th-seeded team, Florida. The Navy-Florida match, which is slated to be played Sat., May 10 at 10 a.m., was announced Tuesday along with the entire 64-team tournament field.

"We're excited about the opportunity to face Florida," said Navy head coach John Officer. "They are a very tradition-rich program that competes in a great conference. We will have to be at our very best when we play them."

Navy advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season by winning the program's sixth Patriot League Championship this past weekend. The Mids enter the postseason with a 20-8 record, the first 20-win season for Navy in 23 years.

Florida, the No. 9 team in the country according to this week's Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Ranking, has posted a 15-7 record this year and advanced to the finals of the recent Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Gators have been ranked as high as eighth this season.

The winner of the Navy-Florida first round match will play the team emerging from the site's additional opening round contest of Miami (Fla.) vs. South Florida (May 10 at 1 p.m.). That second round contest will be played Sun., May 11 at 1 p.m. in Gainesville.

The Hurricanes are ranked 19th nationally this week after finishing the regular season with a 16-7 record. The No. 7 seed entering the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, Miami advanced all the way to the championship match before falling to the nation's top-ranked team in Virginia.

The Bulls compiled a 14-6 record this year and advanced to the finals of the Big East Conference Tournament.