Jan. 22, 1998
Irish Play Host to NCAAs in '98
Volunteers Needed for 1998 NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship
The 1998 NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship will take place
on the campus of the University of Notre Dame from May 21-29, 1998. The
championship will be played at the Courtney Tennis Center, Notre Dame's
set of 24 outdoor courts, and the indoor Eck Tennis Pavilion, in case of
inclement weather.
The 1998 NCAAs will mark the second time in five years that Notre
Dame has played host to an NCAA national tennis event after the 1994
Division I Men's Championship was held on the campus. In addition to the
national tournament, Notre Dame also has played host to NCAA men's
tennis regionals in 1994, '95 and '96.
The women's championship consists of a team tournament, comprised of
16 schools (10 automatic berths and six regional winners), and an
individual tournament with 64 singles players and 32 doubles teams.
"The 1998 NCAA Championship is a great opportunity to bring
top-flight collegiate competition to our campus and the South Bend
area," says Notre Dame athletic director Mike Wadsworth. "The 1994 men's
tournament stimulated interest in tennis in the area and we hope we can
build on this for the 1998 tournament."
Notre Dame played host to the NCAA Midwest Regional for women in
1997 and the Irish have played in the team portion of the national event
on three occasions (1993, '94 and '96) and advanced to the quarterfinals
in 1995. The Irish have sent at least one individual performer to the
event for 10 straight seasons.
"We are very excited to host the NCAA Championship in 1998," says
Notre Dame head women's tennis coach Jay Louderback. "When the men's
tournament was held here in '94, everybody at the University did a
fantastic job and I know that was one of the major factors in the NCAA
selecting Notre Dame for the women's tournament. Hosting the 1998 NCAAs
shows the continued commitment of our athletic administration to the
sport of women's tennis."
