Austen Childs Selected for NCAA Singles Championship
April 29, 2009 | Men's Tennis
April 29, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - - University of Louisville sophomore Austen Childs has been selected for the NCAA Singles Championship. The singles and doubles competitions will take place May 20-25 following the conclusion of the team Championship (May 14-19). The NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Subcommittee has selected the 64 singles players and 32 doubles teams that will compete in the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships at Texas A&M.
"Again, I am proud of Austen Childs," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "He has had a career week in which he was named to the All-Big East team, was the Big East Player of the Year, U of L Athletics Sophomore of the Year, and now NCAA Singles Championship qualifier. I believe he is more prepared for the NCAA singles tournament this season. He spent a considerable amount of time in the weight room and has put on about 14 pounds of muscle which helped him finish the regular season and Big East tournament playing his best tennis. He has also been looking great in practice so I believe he can have a special post-season run."
As the highest ranked player in the BIG EAST Conference, Childs earned the league's automatic bid for the second consecutive year. The sophomore from Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand, is a two-time all-conference selection, the 2009 BIG EAST Men's Tennis Player of the Year, is No. 28 in the ITA singles rankings with a 27-12 overall record and is 18-4 playing mostly in the No. 1 slot.
No. 21 U of L (20-7) earned its sixth NCAA tournament berth and will take on No. 32 Wisconsin on Friday, May 8 at noon (Eastern). The winner of that match will go on to face the winner of host 13th ranked Illinois and Western Michigan.
Players Mentioned
