CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois women’s tennis is set to make the 14th NCAA Team Tournament appearance in program history during the 2023 campaign. The Fighting Illini saw their name called as an at-large bid during Monday’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show and are headed to Athens, Ga., to face Florida State in the first-round action.
The Illini opened the 2023 postseason with a double bye into the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals before earning a 4-2 victory over Iowa. With the win, Illinois advanced to the program’s first semifinals of the conference tournament since the 2018-19 campaign.
UI’s 18 wins thus far are the second-most under head coach Evan Clark, the most since 2017-18, and the sixth-most in a season in program history.
The last time Illinois made the NCAA Tournament as a team was the 2019 campaign. This season’s appearance marks the third with Clark at the helm.
ILLINOIS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
- 2023 marks the 14th appearance for the Fighting Illini in the NCAA Championships.
- The Illini have a 4-13 record in NCAA Tournament play.
- Illinois has reached the Round of 32 four times in program history (2001, 2003, 2009, 2018).
QUICK GLANCE AT THE NCAA FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS
- No. 4 Georgia will host the event taking place at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
- Illinois is 3-7 all-time against Florida State, who sits at 24th in the latest ITA ranking with a 16-10 overall record this year.
- Florida A&M will face off against the host Bulldogs in the first round of competition.
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS SITE
The 2023 NCAA Championships will be held at the USTA National Campus, as the top 16 women’s tennis teams will begin play on Wednesday, May 17, in Orlando, Florida.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Illinois Athletics…