May 2, 2008

Rams and Lady Rams Tennis Teams Selected to NCAA Division II Championship Tournaments

2008 NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Tournament Bracket

2008 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Tournament Bracket

Head Coach Marty Gilbert's men's and women's programs both have been selected to compete in upcoming NCAA Division II Tennis Championships. This is an historic occasion for the men, as it marks their first time representing Philadelphia University in the NCAA postseason tournament.

The Rams (15-8) travel to Stonehill College in Easton, Mass. for the East Regional to face Concordia College (N.Y.) at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 8 in an opening-round contest. Host Stonehill (18-6) then squares off against Queens (11-6) on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. The two winners will advance to the second round and meet at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 9. The winner of that match will advance to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in Houston, Texas from May 14-17.

Gilbert's Philadelphia University men's tennis team registered 15 dual-match victories this season, the most by the program since the 1999 campaign. They head to the NCAA Championships having won eight of their last nine encounters to qualify for the tournament.

Freshman Tom McAvoy leads the Rams with 14 singles victories; and 12 doubles wins place the Phoenixville, Pa. native a joint second on the team with fellow newcomer Kyle Kaltenbacher, who himself owns 24 combined victories. Seniors Alex Richter and Anders Novesky each have registered 22 combined wins for third place on the team; and Novesky paces the squad with 15 wins in doubles competition. Fellow senior Boo Burnier (shown above) provides the Rams with steady results in the middle of the lineup, sporting an overall record of 18-11. Also of note is the play of freshman Seppi Hutter, who has a combined 21-6 record, going 11-3 in singles action and 10-3 in doubles play.

Concordia (16-2) earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships after claiming the East Coast Conference (ECC) crown. Sophomore Alex Grubin, who competes at first singles, registered a 17-1 mark during the regular season. Grubin and seniors Rodrigo Teixeria and Kirill Azovtsez have combined to go 51-3 this season.

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The Philadelphia University women's tennis program will make its second-ever NCAA tournament appearance next week when the Lady Rams (17-6) travel to Smithfield, R.I. for the opening rounds of the 2008 NCAA Division II Tournament at the Bryant University Tennis Complex.

Head Coach Marty Gilbert's women will take on host Bryant University (23-2), the second seed in the East Region, to open the tournament on Friday, May 9 at 12:00 noon. Slippery Rock (20-3) and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC)-rival Holy Family (15-5) will play in the other first-round matchup at 3:00 p.m., with the winners to meet Saturday, May 10 at 12:00 noon.

The winner of that match will advance to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in Houston, Texas from May 14-17.

The Lady Rams played the majority of their 2007-'08 schedule in the fall, compiling a 14-4 dual-match record and a second-place finish in the CACC--in both the regular season and postseason tournament. Philadelphia University then finished 3-2 in an abbreviated spring season, playing in hopes of the at-large NCAA tournament bid that they indeed earned.

Leading the way has been record-setting senior Maddie Smith, who will graduate as the most decorated player in school history, setting new marks for career combined wins (145), career singles wins (72) and career doubles wins (73). Smith was also selected as the CACC Player of the Year after winning the conference singles title before teaming with freshman Adriana Rodriguez for the CACC doubles title. In addition to Smith, fellow senior Katie Stracquatanio (shown above) became just the fourth women's player in school history to record 100 career combined victories, amassing 111 during her stellar collegiate career to rank third all-time.

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2008 NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Tournament
East Region First and Second Rounds in Easton, Mass.

Thursday, May 8 - First Round
Concordia (N.Y.) vs. Philadelphia University, 11:00 a.m.
Queens College vs. Stonehill College, 2:00 p.m.

Friday, May 9 - Second Round
First-round winners, 11:00 a.m.

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2008 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Tournament
East Region First and Second Rounds in Smithfield, R.I.

Friday, May 9 - First Round
Bryant (23-2) vs. Philadelphia University (17-6), 12:00 noon
Slippery Rock (20-3) vs. Holy Family (15-5), 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 10 - Second Round
First-round winners, 12:00 noon

Men's Tennis Team

Women's Tennis Team + Logo

NCAA Championship Logos


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This is an historic occasion for the men, as it marks their first time representing Philadelphia University in the NCAA postseason tournament. The Rams (15-8) travel to Stonehill College in Easton, Mass. for the East Regional to face Concordia College (N.Y.) at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 8 in an opening-round contest. Host Stonehill (18-6) then squares off against Queens (11-6) on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. The two winners will advance to the second round and meet at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 9. The winner of that match will advance to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in Houston, Texas from May 14-17. Gilbert's Philadelphia University men's tennis team registered 15 dual-match victories this season, the most by the program since the 1999 campaign. They head to the NCAA Championships having won eight of their last nine encounters to qualify for the tournament. Freshman Tom McAvoy leads the Rams with 14 singles victories; and 12 doubles wins place the Phoenixville, Pa. native a joint second on the team with fellow newcomer Kyle Kaltenbacher, who himself owns 24 combined victories. Seniors Alex Richter and Anders Novesky each have registered 22 combined wins for third place on the team; and Novesky paces the squad with 15 wins in doubles competition. Fellow senior Boo Burnier (shown above) provides the Rams with steady results in the middle of the lineup, sporting an overall record of 18-11. Also of note is the play of freshman Seppi Hutter, who has a combined 21-6 record, going 11-3 in singles action and 10-3 in doubles play. Concordia (16-2) earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships after claiming the East Coast Conference (ECC) crown. Sophomore Alex Grubin, who competes at first singles, registered a 17-1 mark during the regular season. Grubin and seniors Rodrigo Teixeria and Kirill Azovtsez have combined to go 51-3 this season. ----- The Philadelphia University women's tennis program will make its second-ever NCAA tournament appearance next week when the Lady Rams (17-6) travel to Smithfield, R.I. for the opening rounds of the 2008 NCAA Division II Tournament at the Bryant University Tennis Complex. Head Coach Marty Gilbert's women will take on host Bryant University (23-2), the second seed in the East Region, to open the tournament on Friday, May 9 at 12:00 noon. Slippery Rock (20-3) and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC)-rival Holy Family (15-5) will play in the other first-round matchup at 3:00 p.m., with the winners to meet Saturday, May 10 at 12:00 noon. The winner of that match will advance to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in Houston, Texas from May 14-17. The Lady Rams played the majority of their 2007-'08 schedule in the fall, compiling a 14-4 dual-match record and a second-place finish in the CACC--in both the regular season and postseason tournament. Philadelphia University then finished 3-2 in an abbreviated spring season, playing in hopes of the at-large NCAA tournament bid that they indeed earned. Leading the way has been record-setting senior Maddie Smith, who will graduate as the most decorated player in school history, setting new marks for career combined wins (145), career singles wins (72) and career doubles wins (73). Smith was also selected as the CACC Player of the Year after winning the conference singles title before teaming with freshman Adriana Rodriguez for the CACC doubles title. In addition to Smith, fellow senior Katie Stracquatanio (shown above) became just the fourth women's player in school history to record 100 career combined victories, amassing 111 during her stellar collegiate career to rank third all-time. ----- 2008 NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Tournament East Region First and Second Rounds in Easton, Mass. Thursday, May 8 - First Round Concordia (N.Y.) vs. Philadelphia University, 11:00 a.m. Queens College vs. Stonehill College, 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 9 - Second Round First-round winners, 11:00 a.m. ----- 2008 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Tournament East Region First and Second Rounds in Smithfield, R.I. Friday, May 9 - First Round Bryant (23-2) vs. Philadelphia University (17-6), 12:00 noon Slippery Rock (20-3) vs. Holy Family (15-5), 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 10 - Second Round First-round winners, 12:00 noon