June 5, 2009

ITA Kick-Off Weekend Event Information

BOSTON - By virtue of finishing the 2008-09 season ranked 59th in the nation, the Boston University women's tennis team has earned an invite to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) second annual Kick-Off Weekend, which will serve as the qualifier for the 2010 ITA National Team Indoor Championships. The 2009 America East champion squad will be seeded fourth in the Miami (Fla.) regional and will face off against the Hurricanes on Saturday, Jan. 30.

The ITA Kick-Off Weekend features 15 host sites with four teams at each site vying to advance to the Team Indoor Championships. The 60-team field, which includes 15 host schools, was selected based on the final ITA rankings of the 2008-09 campaign.

The 15 schools that win both of their matches at these events will be invited to play in the Feb. 12-15 ITA National Team Indoor Championships at the Boar's Head Sports Club (hosted by the University of Virginia).

The Terriers received a No. 59 ranking after tallying a 15-6 overall record and earning their 11th consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament. The regional host Hurricanes (26-5) finished the season ranked seventh in the country after falling to eventual national champion Duke in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.

On the other side of the bracket, third-seeded Mississippi State concluded the year ranked 55th nationally, ending its season with a record of 10-10 overall. South Alabama ended the 2009 season ranked No. 52 and advanced to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championships.

The losers of each match will compete in the consolation on Sunday (Jan. 31), with the winners competing for an invite to the Indoor Championships afterwards.