The seventh-rated Gustavus Adolphus women’s tennis team will face Emory University in a NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Team Championship Quarterfinal Wednesday, May 17 in Santa Cruz, California. Gustavus is making its 17th trip to the quarterfinal round in 18 years. Emory is the three-time defending national champion.
Emory is the only school to qualify for the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championships every year since the current dual-match, single-elimination team championship was initiated. The Eagles are 32-18 all-time in NCAA play, capturing four titles (1996, 2003-05), one runner-up finish (2002), two third-place finishes (1997, 2001) and one fourth place finish (1991).
Gustavus has qualified for 18 consecutive NCAA Championships, compiling a 26-19 record in dual-match play. The Gusties captured the 1990 national title, finished second in 1991 and 1993, third in 1998 and fourth in 1989, 1992, and 1994. The Gusties are 4-7 all-time against Emory.
The winner of the Gustavus/Emory dual will face either eighth-rated Amherst or second-rated Trinity (Tex.) in a semifinal match Thursday, May 18.
Singles/Doubles Selections
The NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Committee also selected individuals and doubles teams that will compete in the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championships. The individual championships include 32 single players and 16 double teams. The singles and doubles championships will be held May 20-22 at the University of California, Santa Cruz East and West Field Courts hosted by the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Senior Tara Houlihan (Sioux Falls, S.D.) was one of 32 individuals selected for the singles draw while Houlihan and fellow senior Lyndsey Palen (Rochester, Minn.), the defending NCAA Division III doubles champions, will be back to defend their title as one of 16 doubles tandems selected. The Gustavus doubles team of senior Marla Menne (White Bear Lake, Minn.) and junior Lauren Hom (Stevens Point, Wis.) were selected as one of three alternate teams in the doubles competition.
The actual draw for the individual championships will be May 18.