Women’s tennis earns No. 1 overall seed for NCAA tournament

After winning both the Big 12 Conference regular season and tournament title for the fifth straight year, the Baylor women’s tennis squad earned the No. 1 overall seed when this year’s NCAA tournament bracket was announced Tuesday. The Baylor men also fared well, receiving the No. 7 national seed; both teams will host first and second round action at the Baylor Tennis Center this weekend.

Head coach Joey Scrivano’s Lady Bears are 27-2 on the year, including a perfect 11-0 mark in Big 12 play for the third season in a row. They will host Southland Conference Tournament champs Northwestern State Friday at 2 p.m. at the Baylor Tennis Center, with the winner facing either Tulsa or North Texas the next day at 3 p.m.

The Baylor men are also hosting first and second round action after earning their 13th consecutive NCAA tournament selection. Head coach Matt Knoll’s squad has not entered the tournament lower than a No. 9 seed since 2001. The Bears will face Summit League champs Oral Roberts Saturday at noon, with the winner taking on either Rice or Washington Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Lady Bears’ conference championship was Baylor’s 21st regular season Big 12 title across all sports since the league began, second only to Texas’ 25. No other school has won more than 14 regular season championships.

Sic ’em, Baylor tennis!