For the first time in school history, both the Emporia State men’s and women’s tennis teams have earned berths in the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
It is just the third time that both teams have made the national postseason, as the two teams advanced to the NAIA National Tournament in 1982 and 1992.
The Lady Hornets — fresh off their MIAA Tournament Championship last week — earned the No. 2 seed and will play host to the regional pod at the Milton Courts on the ESU campus.
ESU will play the Mesa State in the first round at 3 p.m. on May 3. It’s the second time in three years the Lady Hornets have hosted a regional pod.
Mesa State (14-8) enters as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament champion.
The winner of the dual will take on the winner of the Nebraska-Omaha/Minnesota-Duluth matchup at 3 p.m. on May 4.
Ticket prices are $4 for adults, $2 for senior citizens, children and students with IDs.
The ESU women (14-2) have lost to Northwest Missouri State, 5-4, in the regional pod the last two years.
The men (10-6) are the No. 8 seed in the North Central region and will take on top-seeded Washburn at 1 p.m. on May 3.
Washburn finished third in the MIAA regular season and was runner-up in the conference tournament.
This is the Hornets’ first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis
North Central Regional Pod
First & Second Round
Milton Courts
Emporia
Dual Match Schedule
Thursday, May 3
10 a.m. Neb.-Omaha vs. Minn.-Duluth
3 p.m. Emporia State vs. Mesa State
Friday, May 4
3 p.m. UNO/UMD winner vs. ESU/MSC winner
Winner advances to NCAA National Championship Tournament in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
NCAA Division II Men’s Tennis
North Central Regional Pod
First & Second Round
Washburn Tennis Complex
Topeka
Dual Match Schedule
Thursday, May 3
9 a.m. Metro State vs. Nebraska-Kearney
9 a.m. Emporia State vs. Washburn
Friday, May 4
9 a.m. MSC/UNK winner vs. ESU/WU winner
Winner advances to NCAA National Championship Tournament in Altamonte Springs, Fla.