Fighting Illini Earn Back-to-Back NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament Bids

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women’s tennis team is set to make the 15^th NCAA Team Tournament appearance in program history during the 2024 campaign. The Fighting Illini saw their name called as an at-large bid during Monday’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show and are headed to Austin, Texas, to face Georgia Tech in the first-round action. The team will begin competition on Saturday, May 4, with the second round slated for May 5.

“I’m so proud of this squad as they have battled all year and are very deserving of an NCAA tournament berth,” shared head coach Evan Clark. “We still feel like are best tennis is ahead of us and we will look to display that this weekend at Texas.”

The Illini opened the 2024 postseason with a Big Ten Women’s Tennis Tournament Second Round win over 12^th-seeded Rutgers. The victory allowed Illinois to make its 16th straight quarterfinal appearance – a streak that began in 2008. The Fighting Illini would bow out with a loss in the quarterfinals.

UI’s 17 wins thus far are the third-most under Coach Clark and tie for the 10th-most in a season in program history. Three of those top-10 marks have come under Clark.

Illinois has made the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the second time under Clark and seventh time in program history. This season’s appearance marks the fourth with Clark at the helm.

ILLINOIS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

• 2024 marks the 15^th appearance for the Fighting Illini in the NCAA Championships.
• The Illini have a 4-14 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. 9 Texas will host the event taking place at the Texas Tennis Center.
• Illinois is 0-2 all-time against Georgia Tech, who sits at 24th in the latest ITA ranking with a 13-9 overall record this year.
• Harvard will face off against the host Longhorns in the first round of competition.

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS SITE

The women’s team quarterfinals through national championship, played at Greenwood Tennis Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma, run through May 17-19 and singles and doubles finals take place thereafter from May 20-25.