To add more stress to the most dreaded and infamous week known as Finals Week, the women’s tennis team will add the NCAA Division II Round 16 tournament to that crazy week.
Wednesday, the Wildcats will travel to Suprise, Ariz., to match against Columbus State University.
The Columbus Cougars have an overall record of 22-3 for the season and 12-1 in the Peach Belt Conference.
As far as a conference title, they haven’t claimed one since 2006 and this season the Cougars came second to Armstrong University, last season’s Division II National Champions.
Columbus is no stranger to NCAA tournaments.
This will be their 17th appearance, with five seasons advancing to the Round of 16 and only two ending in the quarterfinals round.
With a makeup of upperclassmen, Columbus State will have to rebuild their explosive team next season if they hope to continue to show face at NCAA level tournaments.
The winner of the ACU versus CSU match will advance to the quarterfinals next Thursday.
If the team advances, they will be one match away from claiming the National Championship title.
This year’s Round 16 participants spring from all parts of the country.
They include: last year’s champions, Armstrong Atlantic State University, and ACU’s competitors on Wednesday, Columbus State from Georgia, Northwood University from Michigan, Southwest Baptist and Drury University traveling from Missouri, Hawaii Pacific University and BYU-Hawaii, West Florida University, University of Indiana (Pennsylvania) and University of California (Pennsylvania) and from Texas, Midwestern State with, of course, Abilene Christian.
The remainder of the NCAA Division championship will take place in the Suprise Tennis and Racquet Complex, which is the largest of its kind in the southwest.
The complex has a total of 25 courts, 17 of those being lighted, a 2,500 seating center arena and several classes being offered seven days a week.
The Wildcats will feel right at home as this is their 18th appearance in an NCAA tournament.
“We are proud and ready to represent ACU,” Micah Hermsdorf said.
Whatever the results of the Round 16 match one thing is for sure, the women’s team will not leave Arizona defeated.
The team has more than 26 NCAA regional titles, 22 titles in the Lone Star Conference and 27 games won this season.
