TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona State women's tennis program returns home for the first time in the 2016-17 season, as they host the 22nd annual ASU Thunderbird Invitational at Whiteman Tennis Center. The three day tournament begins on Friday, Nov. 4 at 8:30 a.m. with doubles, and will end on Sunday, Nov. 6.
As the last live competition the women will see until January, head coach Sheila McInerney wants her squad to execute and head into the break on a high note before the regular season kicks off.
"Being the last tournament of the fall for us, it is important for the team to end well and go into the semester break with some nice momemtum," said McInerney.
In 2015, former Sun Devil Desirae Krawczyk became the first player from ASU to win the tournament since Kelcy McKenna in 2010. The annual tournament has played host to some of the top players in the country, and McInerney sees it continuing to grow -- especially with the addition of the Sun Devil men's program.
"The Thunderbird has been a great tournament for us over the years and will continue to be as we move forward," she said. "We have hosted quality teams and many of the top players in the nation at the Thunderbird. Past winners include numerous ITA top 20 players including, NCAA Champion Jana Juricova. I can forsee us possibly combining the tournament with the men's team in the future, which would be great for Valley tennis fans."
This season plays host to California, the University of San Diego, Fresno State and Northern Arizona. While the field is smaller than other years, the tournament falls on the same weekend as USTA ITA National Indoor Championships in Flushing, N.Y.
As a team, the Sun Devil women are coming off the Tennessee Fall Invitational, where they played a round robin, singles and doubles format similar to the regular season. McInerney was pleased overall with their performance and their resiliency in some hard-fought, three-set matches.
They will now bounce back to the single-elimination bracket format in singles, which will feature 22 women. Ten doubles pairs will play a round robin format, playing two matches on Friday and Saturday morning starting at 8:30 a.m. They will rotate and play a different duo each day, with the final day featuring a single match for each pair.
Singles play will begin at approximately 10 a.m. (PT) on Friday and Saturday, followed by a second round at noon (PT).
The bracket for Friday's matches will be posted on Thursday here.
As the last live competition the women will see until January, head coach Sheila McInerney wants her squad to execute and head into the break on a high note before the regular season kicks off.
"Being the last tournament of the fall for us, it is important for the team to end well and go into the semester break with some nice momemtum," said McInerney.
In 2015, former Sun Devil Desirae Krawczyk became the first player from ASU to win the tournament since Kelcy McKenna in 2010. The annual tournament has played host to some of the top players in the country, and McInerney sees it continuing to grow -- especially with the addition of the Sun Devil men's program.
"The Thunderbird has been a great tournament for us over the years and will continue to be as we move forward," she said. "We have hosted quality teams and many of the top players in the nation at the Thunderbird. Past winners include numerous ITA top 20 players including, NCAA Champion Jana Juricova. I can forsee us possibly combining the tournament with the men's team in the future, which would be great for Valley tennis fans."
This season plays host to California, the University of San Diego, Fresno State and Northern Arizona. While the field is smaller than other years, the tournament falls on the same weekend as USTA ITA National Indoor Championships in Flushing, N.Y.
As a team, the Sun Devil women are coming off the Tennessee Fall Invitational, where they played a round robin, singles and doubles format similar to the regular season. McInerney was pleased overall with their performance and their resiliency in some hard-fought, three-set matches.
They will now bounce back to the single-elimination bracket format in singles, which will feature 22 women. Ten doubles pairs will play a round robin format, playing two matches on Friday and Saturday morning starting at 8:30 a.m. They will rotate and play a different duo each day, with the final day featuring a single match for each pair.
Singles play will begin at approximately 10 a.m. (PT) on Friday and Saturday, followed by a second round at noon (PT).
The bracket for Friday's matches will be posted on Thursday here.