TEMPE, Ariz. – The Sun Devil women's tennis team and head coach Sheila McInerney will make their 30th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance in Auburn, Ala. as the No. 2 seed, the NCAA announced on Tuesday.
In the first round, No. 26 Arizona State (14-7, 7-3 Pac-12) will play No. 41 Florida State (16-11, 6-5 ACC) at 8 a.m. PT on Friday, May 12 at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. Live video will be available along with live stats.
"First of all, we're just happy to get back to the tournament," said McInerney. "It's a fun and exciting time of the year. We're certainly happy to go back to Auburn. We've got a tough first round match-up in Florida State. They play a really good schedule, so they'll be a tough one."
This is the fifth-straight season the Devils have earned the two seed, going 3-1 in the first round since 2013. In 2016, ASU – then ranked No. 23 – also played in the Auburn regional and played No. 35 North Carolina State in the first round, defeating the Wolfpack 4-1 to advance to play No. 11 Auburn. The Tigers clinched the match, 4-2, over ASU.
"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."
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. Seniors Kassidy Jump, Alex Osborne and Gussie O'Sullivan each have been a part of the Devils' last three postseason runs, while junior Kelley Anderson helped Baylor advance to the NCAA Quarterfinal as a freshman and junior Nicole Fossa-Huergo was a part of Armstrong State's back-to-back NCAA Division II championships each of the last two seasons. Sophomore Sammi 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.
ASU's first round opponent, the Seminoles, went a combined 4-8 against ranked opponents this season, including a 2-6 record against teams in the top-30. Their two victories came against then No. 26 NC State, 5-2, followed by a 4-0 shutout of then-No. 28 Notre Dame over a month later.
It's their first trip back to the NCAA tournament since 2013-14, where they defeated then-No. 27 Arizona – also the two seed -- in the first round before getting bounced by Georgia in the second. Only one current Seminole was on the roster then – senior Daniela Schippers -- as the FSU line-up consists of just two upperclassmen.
At one point during this season, FSU was on a six-match winning streak before dropping three of their last five matches down the stretch.
If the Devils prevail, they will play the winner of No. 13 Auburn and 4-seed DePaul on Saturday, May 13 at 10 a.m. PT.
In the first round, No. 26 Arizona State (14-7, 7-3 Pac-12) will play No. 41 Florida State (16-11, 6-5 ACC) at 8 a.m. PT on Friday, May 12 at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. Live video will be available along with live stats.
"First of all, we're just happy to get back to the tournament," said McInerney. "It's a fun and exciting time of the year. We're certainly happy to go back to Auburn. We've got a tough first round match-up in Florida State. They play a really good schedule, so they'll be a tough one."
This is the fifth-straight season the Devils have earned the two seed, going 3-1 in the first round since 2013. In 2016, ASU – then ranked No. 23 – also played in the Auburn regional and played No. 35 North Carolina State in the first round, defeating the Wolfpack 4-1 to advance to play No. 11 Auburn. The Tigers clinched the match, 4-2, over ASU.
"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."
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. Seniors Kassidy Jump, Alex Osborne and Gussie O'Sullivan each have been a part of the Devils' last three postseason runs, while junior Kelley Anderson helped Baylor advance to the NCAA Quarterfinal as a freshman and junior Nicole Fossa-Huergo was a part of Armstrong State's back-to-back NCAA Division II championships each of the last two seasons. Sophomore Sammi 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.
ASU's first round opponent, the Seminoles, went a combined 4-8 against ranked opponents this season, including a 2-6 record against teams in the top-30. Their two victories came against then No. 26 NC State, 5-2, followed by a 4-0 shutout of then-No. 28 Notre Dame over a month later.
It's their first trip back to the NCAA tournament since 2013-14, where they defeated then-No. 27 Arizona – also the two seed -- in the first round before getting bounced by Georgia in the second. Only one current Seminole was on the roster then – senior Daniela Schippers -- as the FSU line-up consists of just two upperclassmen.
At one point during this season, FSU was on a six-match winning streak before dropping three of their last five matches down the stretch.
If the Devils prevail, they will play the winner of No. 13 Auburn and 4-seed DePaul on Saturday, May 13 at 10 a.m. PT.