May 9, 2002
Goin' Dancing
The 26th-ranked Aztec women's tennis team, which makes its 16th NCAA Tournament appearance and its fifth in the last six seasons, travels to Tempe, Ariz., for a Saturday first-round match against Arizona. San Diego State will face the 19th-ranked Wildcats of the Pac-10 Conference at 8 a.m. followed by Southwest Missouri State against region-host, 10th-ranked and 11th-seeded Arizona State. The winners will meet on Sunday at 10 a.m. Arizona finished the regular season with an 11-10 record and are in the NCAA draw for the first time since 1997. The Wildcats feature three players ranked nationally in singles, led by 19th-ranked Maja Mlakar. Arizona's top doubles team is also ranked in the top 10. San Diego State enter postseason having won six of its last seven and 13 of its final 15 matches of the season. The Aztecs, which have lost just twice since March 13, have seven victories over ranked opponents including a 5-2 decision over 18th-ranked Notre Dame on March 15. The Sun Devils posted a 13-7 record en route to a fourth-place finish in the Pac-10 while Southwest Missouri State claimed the Missouri Valley Championship and is making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Bears finished the season with a 16-6 mark. The winners of the 16 second-round matches will advance to the team championships in Stanford, Calif. beginning on May 16.
Aztecs In The NCAAs
The 2002 championship marks the 21st year the NCAA has crowned a champion in women's tennis and the Aztecs have appeared in all but five of the tournaments. Only nine schools have made more NCAA Tournament appearances than the Aztecs, which are participating in their 16th championship. After the Aztecs failed to qualify for the 64-team field last season, despite a 17-8 record, a regular-season Mountain West Conference title and a national ranking in the 30s, San Diego State left little doubt concerning the postseason this year. The Aztecs posted an 18-8 record, with seven of the eight losses coming to NCAA Tournament teams. In addition the Aztecs have been ranked among the top 30 teams in the country since late March. The only years the Aztecs failed to make the tournament were 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995 and 2001. Three of the top 13 teams in number of NCAA Tournament appearances are participating in this regional in Arizona State (17), Arizona (16) and SDSU (16).
The Rankings
San Diego State enters the NCAA Tournament with a national ranking of 26. The Aztecs have been ranked in all 14 polls this season, climbing to a peak position of 22 in early April. Silvia Tornier, winner of seven straight singles matches, is ranked 69th in singles play.
Quick Volleys
With 18 dual victories, San Diego State has posted its highest victory count since claiming 18 wins during the 1996 season... The last time the Aztecs won more dual matches was 26 in the 1984-85 season... All seven of the Aztecs that have played single dual matches this season have posted winning records.... Silvia Tornier has posted an 18-6 dual record in singles and a 25-6 record overall... Tornier has played 22 of her 24 dual matches at number one... The three doubles teams that Peter Mattera has implemented since mid-season are a collective 37-9 (Katja Karrento/Katalina Romero 17-7, Indra Erichsen/Silvia Tornier 10-0 and Julie Anna Chidley/Katey Clark-Becker 10-2)... San Diego State has won the point at number five singles in seven consecutive matches.
SDSU NCAA Team Appearances
* 1982 - Salt Lake City, Utah
First Round: SDSU 8, Northwestern 1
Second Round: Trinity 6, SDSU 3
* 1983 - Albuquerque, N.M.
First Round: SDSU 5, Miami 4
Second Round: Stanford 5, SDSU 4
* 1984 - Los Angeles, Calif.
First Round: SDSU 7, California 2
Second Round: SDSU 6, Texas 3
Semifinals: Stanford 7, SDSU 2
Consolation (3rd/4th Place): Trinity 5, SDSU 4
* 1985 - Austin, Texas
First Round: SDSU 6, Northwestern 3
Second Round: USC 9, SDSU 0
* 1986 - Austin, Texas
First Round: Oklahoma State 6, SDSU 3
* 1989 - Gainesville, Fla.
First Round: SDSU 6, William & Mary 3
Second Round: Stanford 9, SDSU 0
* 1990 - Gainesville, Fla.
First Round: Indiana 5, SDSU 3
* 1991 - Palo Alto, Calif.
First Round: SDSU 5, Tennessee 1
Second Round: Stanford 5, SDSU 1
* 1992 - Palo Alto, Calif.
First Round: SDSU 5, Kansas 4
Second Round: Duke 5, SDSU 1
* 1993 - Gainesville, Fla.
First Round: Mississippi 5, SDSU 3
* 1996 - Malibu, Calif.
First Round: Arizona State 5, SDSU 4
* 1997 - San Diego, Calif.
First Round: SDSU 5, Oregon 2
Second Round: Pepperdine 5, SDSU 3
* 1998 - Las Vegas, Nev.
First Round: SDSU 5, USD 2
Second Round: USC 5, SDSU 1
* 1999 - Berkeley, Calif.
First Round: Marquette 5, SDSU 1
* 2000 - Winston Salem, N.C.
First Round: SDSU 5, South Florida 4
Second Round: Wake Forest 5, SDSU 0