#26 Devils Open NCAA Play vs. #37 Florida State on Friday

AUBURN, Ala. – Head coach Sheila McInerney and the Sun Devil women's tennis team is less than 48 hours from their opening match-up in the first round of the NCAA Team Tournament at Auburn University.
 
The No. 26 Devils (14-7, 7-3 Pac-12) make first serve against No. 37 Florida State (16-11, 6-5 ACC) at 8 a.m. PT from the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
 
"We've got a tough first round match-up in Florida State," said McInerney. "They play a really good schedule, so they'll be a tough one."
 
This is the second-straight season ASU has drawn the second seed in the Auburn regional. In 2016, the Devils defeated NC State in the first round to meet Auburn in regional championship. The Tigers would prevail, 4-2, in a thrilling match that included three-set matches on all six singles courts.
 
"We lost a tough one to Auburn last year in the second round, and I think they're arguably better this year than last," said McInerney. "We know we'll have our hands full first with FSU, and that's the only thing we're looking at right now."
 
This season has been one of the best during McInerney's 33-year tenure, as ASU finished with its highest conference finish in the regular season standings (3^rd) and the second-best conference record as well.
 
In doubles, the team has gone 14-6 in their matches during the regular season with five of those six losses coming at the hands of top-25 teams – four against top-12 teams. Senior Alex Osborne and junior Nicole Fossa Huergo is the only pair ranked in the ITA rankings, as they moved back in to No. 68. On court three, senior Kassidy Jump and sophomore Sammi Hampton enter the tournament with a 26-6 record and have won 10 of their last 12 matches with just one loss.
 
In singles, the Devils are led by Jump on court one, who is ranked No. 50 in the country with a 20-12 record this season. She will be the only female to represent ASU at the NCAA Singles Championships. Every Sun Devil owns a winning record in singles this season, with junior Kelley Anderson leading the way on court three at 23-9 in his first year wearing the maroon and gold.
 
One advantage the Devils will have on their side is the experience at the NCAA tournament, as all but one – freshman Savannah Slaysman – have postseason experience. Jump, Osborne and senior Gussie O'Sullivan each have been a part of the Devils' last three postseason runs, while Anderson helped Baylor advance to the NCAA Quarterfinal as a freshman and Fossa-Huergo was a part of Armstrong State's back-to-back NCAA Division II championships each of the last two seasons. Hampton got her first taste of NCAA tournament action last season, going 2-0 in her two matches on court five.
 
"It's really important because once you get to the NCAA's you know it's one and done," said McInerney of her experienced squad. "It's your last go around for people like Kassidy, Gussie and Alex, who have been great for our program the last four years – it's their last time. They've been to four now and haven't made it to the sweet sixteen. Hopefully that disappointment gives some extra motivation to get over the hump. Our goal is to win the four-team tournament and advance."
 
The last time the women made it out of the first two rounds was 2003, where they eventually fell to eventual NCAA runner-up Florida, 4-0.