Childs and Childs Selected for NCAA Doubles Championship
May 04, 2009 | Men's Tennis
May 4, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - - University of Louisville sophomore doubles team of Austen Childs and Simon Childs earned its second consecutive bid to the NCAA Doubles Championship. The championship 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.
As the highest ranked duo in the BIG EAST Conference, Childs and Childs earned the league's automatic bid for the second consecutive year. Austen Childs (Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand) and Simon Childs (Hillington, England) have teamed for a 26-8 overall record and at 13-5 at the No. 1 position. Childs and Childs are currently ranked No. 25 and reached a program-best sixth in the nation on February 19. They were also selected to play in the NCAA doubles championship as freshmen in 2008.
"I am very happy that Simon and Austen have received a bid to play the Doubles NCAA Championship," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "This is their second bid in the two seasons they have been at Louisville. This bid completes the "Triple Crown" of college tennis which includes the team, single, and doubles tournament. This has only been achieved one other time in U of L Tennis history. I know that many of our alumni, boosters and fans are happy about this."
"I think last year's experience will help them out," said Ecarma. "They had one match point to defeated one of the seeded doubles teams in last year's NCAA's and we have often talked about that missed opportunity. So now they have another chance at a National Championship. Austen is a humble warrior and Simon is a talkative, talented and easy going personality. They are a great combination."
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
