The Charlotte 49ers Men’s Tennis team has earned an automatic bid in the 2024 Division I NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships and is set to face the Alabama team in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, May 3. The first and second rounds of the quadrant will be hosted by 13-seed Duke, who will play against Big South champion UNC Asheville.
Head Coach of the Charlotte team, Kyle Bailey, has expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming game, emphasizing the advantage of playing in a familiar environment and climate. The Niners, who set a program record by winning 19 overall matches, secured their place in the NCAA Tournament by clinching the 2024 American Athletic Conference Championship after winning four matches in four days.
This marks the team’s second-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the first being in 2007. The opponent, Alabama, earned an at-large bid after finishing No. 21 in the latest ITA Rankings. The team is led by first-team All-SEC selection Filip Planinsek and second-team all-conference selection Matias Ponce De Leon.
The tournament will feature four teams competing in a single-elimination format, with the winner of each site advancing to super-regional competition scheduled for May 10 or 11. The super-regional winners will then advance to the Greenwood Tennis Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma, for the national championship from May 16-19.
During the matches, three doubles matches consisting of six-game sets will be played for one team point, followed by six singles matches. The team accumulating four or more team points will advance in the championship bracket. The championships will see participation from other AAC schools, including SMU, Rice, and Memphis, alongside Charlotte.
To support and celebrate the Men’s Tennis program for their AAC crown and NCAA Tournament berth, donations can be made to fuel the team’s success. The full 64-team bracket in the NCAA Tournament is available for viewing on the official website.
The Charlotte 49ers Men’s Tennis team has undoubtedly left a significant mark in the collegiate tennis world. As the players prepare for the NCAA Tournament, it presents a wonderful opportunity for fans and supporters to rally behind the team and assist them in achieving further success. With the right blend of talent, determination, and support, the Niners will assuredly seek to make a lasting impression in the upcoming championship.