April 28, 2009

WACO, Texas - For the first time since 2002 Baylor's men's tennis team will hit the road for NCAA Championship first and second round action. Baylor, the tournament's No. 6 seed, will travel to Tulsa, Okla., joining the University of Tulsa, UMKC and TCU at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center on the University of Tulsa's campus.

Baylor's men's squad will be making its 12th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bears, currently 23-5 on the season and ranked No. 6 nationally, have been to four of the last five NCAA Final Fours, including a national title in 2004 and runner-up finish in 2005.

The 2009 NCAA Championships marks just the fifth time in Baylor's 12 NCAA postseason appearances that the Bears have traveled for first-round action. In 1998, its first year of playing in the NCAA Tournament, Baylor played in Austin, Texas, followed by a trip to Terre Haute, Ind., in 1999. After earning their first hosting stint in 2000, the Bears were at TCU in 2001 and were hosted by of Harvard in Boston, Mass., in 2002.

Men's competition will begin on Friday, May 8. Head coach Matt Knoll's Bears will take on UMKC in first round action, while Tulsa and TCU will also meet in the first round. Winners of Friday matches will play at on Saturday.

"I am a little stunned to be totally honest," Baylor head coach Matt Knoll said. "I couldn't be more disappointed for our guys. We spend a considerable amount of time and energy all year to earn a high seed, win the conference regular season and tournament, and we kind of feel like we have earned the right to host. My first reaction is I am disappointed. I am disappointed for David Galic our senior, who doesn't get to finish his career playing on his home courts and for all of the guys."

Baylor, UMKC and Tulsa all received automatic bids to the NCAA Tennis Championships by winning conference tournaments. UMKC won the Summit Conference's automatic bid and is currently 14-6 on the season while Tulsa, 21-9 and ranked No. 30, won the Conference USA Tournament. TCU, currently ranked No. 38 enters NCAA play at 12-11.

Schedule of competition:

Friday, May 8
Baylor vs. UMKC
TCU vs. Tulsa

Saturday, May 9 - First round winners

The winner of each site will advance to the NCAA Tennis Championships at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center in College Station, Texas hosted by Texas A&M. Competition in College Station is May 14-19.