May 7, 2003
Complete Women's Tennis Release in PDF Format
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ON TAP: For the fifth straight year, the No. 18 Arizona State women's tennis team (9-10) will host the NCAA first and second round regional at the Whiteman Tennis Center, Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11. In the opening round, the 15th-seeded Sun Devils will face Illinois-Chicago (17-6) on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. while San Diego State (22-5) will take on No. 20 Fresno State (16-7) at 8:00 a.m. in the first match of the day. The two first round winners will play on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. with the regional winner advancing to the 16-team NCAA Team Championship in Gainsville, Florida, May 15-18.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: This is Arizona State's 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and holds a 17-17 overall record ... before the current NCAA system went into place in 1982, ASU won the national championship in 1971, 1972 and 1974 ... ASU has advanced out of its regional the last four years by a combined score of 42-4 ... ASU's best finish in the current format: Eight quarterfinals (1986, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001).
HEAD COACH SHEILA McINERNEY: Is in her 19th season at the helm of the ASU program after leading her team to a NCAA Round of 16 appearance and a No. 9 national ranking in 2002. McInerney has also guided ASU to eight quarterfinal appearances in her tenure, and has made the NCAA tournament in 18 of her 19 seasons. McInerney was also selected as the head coach of the 2001-2002 USA Tennis Collegiate team. In 1997, McInerney was honored as the ITA National Coach of the Year after guiding the Sun Devils to a 15-7 record and a No. 7 national ranking. She also garnered 1997 Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year honors and is a three time (1988, '90, '01) West Region ITA Coach of the Year. McInerney, who owns a career record of 299-178 (.627), posted three 20-win seasons (1986, '90, '01) and has guided the Devils to 16 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. ASU has finished in the top-10 in five of the past six seasons and 13 times in her 18 seasons. McInerney has tutored 23 All-Americans and 13 different all-conference players.
ALL-AMERICAN NUMBERS: Senior and three-time All-American Adria Engel will look to become Arizona State's second four-time All-American selection (Reka Cseresnyes 1995-98). After capturing ASU's first Pac-10 singles title (male/female) as a sophomore, Engel is also the school's all-time leader in wins. A 2003 first-team All-Pac-10 selection, she is the team's No. 1 player, posting a 16-4 dual record and has won 10 of her last 13 matches, including knocking off the No. 4, 7 and 10th ranked players in the nation. She is currently 28-11 and holds a career record of 129-44 (.746).
DEVILS IN THE RANKINGS: As a team, Arizona State is No. 18 in the Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings, administered by the ITA. In singles, Adria Engel dropped two spots from a career-high No. 5 to No. 7 and Dora Krstulovic comes in at No. 56.
HOME SWEET HOME: Over the past six seasons, Arizona State holds an impressive 60-19 (.759) overall dual record at the Whiteman Tennis Center, while posting a 25-10 (.714) mark the past three seasons. The Devils non-conference record is even more impressive over the past five seasons with a 48-7 (.873) mark.
SCHEDULE STRENGTH: Once again the Devils faced a strong non-conference slate along with the always powerful Pac-10 Conference. Thirteen ASU opponents earned NCAA bids last year, while 11 of ASU's opponents were ranked in the top-25. The Pac-10 comprises four of the nation's top-6 teams and seven of the nine Pac-10 teams are ranked in the top-25.