With the waiting and anticipation over, both the ETSU men’s and women’s tennis teams now know who they will face in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
With players, coaches, staff and fans watching live inside the “Cave,” the ESPNews Selection Show announced that the No. 60-ranked men’s team will square off against No. 5 overall seed Tennessee at 1 p.m. next Friday May 8.
Head coach Yaser Zaatini’s Bucs (13-7) enter the field after earning their third straight Atlantic Sun Conference title, while the Vols (21-6) received an automatic bid after finishing second at the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Overall, ETSU will be making its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and looks to improve off last season’s first-round win over Big East opponent Notre Dame.
This also marks the second time ETSU and the Vols will face off this spring, as Tennessee defeated the Bucs 6-1 on Jan. 24 at the Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center in Knoxville.
Minutes later, the Atlantic Sun Champion Lady Bucs learned their fate as ETSU received its automatic bid and will face off against No. 10-ranked Tennessee at noon Saturday, May 9, in Knoxville, Tenn.
The winner of that match-up will face the winner of the Wake Forest/South Carolina contest that takes place prior to ETSU’s match at 9:30 a.m.
Head coach Steve Brooks’ squad returns to the tournament for the second time in school history after winning the A-Sun title over Stetson, while Tennessee (17-6) enters the tournament after going unbeaten in Knoxville this spring.
In its last NCAA Tournament appearance, ETSU fell to in-state foe Vanderbilt in 2006.

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