May 8, 2006
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THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa women’s tennis team will travel to NCAA Regional competition in Miami, FL, Friday-Saturday. Iowa will compete against Florida International University in the first round, Friday at 9 a.m. The winner of the match will face the winner of Friday’s Boston University vs. Miami match, Saturday, at 2 p.m. Both times listed are central. Competition will take place at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
THE HAWKEYES — The Hawkeyes ended the regular season with a 9-1 Big Ten record, the best Big Ten record in the history of Iowa women’s tennis. Head Coach Daryl Greenan was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Iowa defeated Illinois in the first round of the Big Ten Championships, 4-0, before falling to Michigan in the semifinals, 4-3. Iowa is ranked 31st nationally, with an 18-5 overall record. Individually, Meg Racette is ranked No. 39 in singles and Mili Veselinovic is ranked 85th. The doubles team of Racette and Jacqueline Lee is ranked 60th. Others expected to compete for the Hawkeyes are Merel Beelen, Kayla Berry, Krissy Dowlin and Hillary Mintz.
RACETTE TO COMPETE IN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS — Senior Meg Racette has been selected to compete in the NCAA individual championships, May 23-28. Racette, an at-large selection, went 17-4 in dual play this season, including 9-1 in conference play. Championship competition will take place at the Taube Tennis Center, in Stanford, CA.
THE COMPETITION — Florida International is ranked 39th with a 20-5 overall record. FIU won the Sun Belt Conference for the second straight season this year and posted a conference record of 6-0. Head Coach Ronni Bernstein was named Coach of the Year for the Sun Belt Conference, marking the second year in a row she has received the honor. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
LAST TIME AT NCAA REGIONALS — Iowa traveled to NCAA Regional competition in 2005. Iowa was defeated by Notre Dame in the first round, 4-1.
ALL-TIME REGIONAL HISTORY — The Hawkeyes are 2-5 in NCAA Tournament matches. Playing in its first NCAA Tournament in 1999, Iowa upset Florida State, 5-4, and Notre Dame, 5-4, to advance to its first ever NCAA Championships, where the Hawkeyes eventually fell to Duke in the “Sweet Sixteen.” The Hawkeyes lost to LSU, 5-3, in 2000, North Carolina, 4-1, in 2001, Notre Dame, 4-1, in 2004, and 2005, 4-1.
LAST MEET — Iowa traveled to the Big Ten Championships, April 27-30. Iowa dominated Illinois in the first round, 4-0, before losing to Michigan, 4-3.
HEAD COACH Daryl Greenan — Coach Greenan is in his second season as head coach for the Hawkeyes. Greenan led the Hawkeyes to a 18-5 overall record in 2006, going 9-1 in Big Ten competition for a second place finish in the conference. Greenan has a 32-15 overall record in two seasons at Iowa. Toni Neykova is the assistant coach and is in her fourth season with the Hawkeyes.