May 3, 2006

The Siena College women's tennis team learned Wednesday night it will play Clemson University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday May 12. The Saints are making their first NCAA appearance. Clemson was the nation's #15 seed. Furman will play Kentucky in the other match scheduled in Clemson, S.C. Times of the matches will be released at a later date.

Siena enters the NCAA with a 14-7 overall record. The Saints earned an automatic bid into the Field of 64 by virtue of winning the MAAC Tournament Championship last weekend in Jersey City, NJ.

The Saints are led by freshman Sarah Mayer (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) who posted a 22-4 overall record in singles play this season. Sophomore transfer Taylor Barvoets (Newtonville, N.Y./Academy of Holy Names) has played second singles all season and owns an 18-5 record.

Clemson is 16-7 overall record and 8-3 in ACC play. The Tigers were ranked 15th nationally in the most recent Fila/ITA Tennis rankings. In the individual polls, three Clemson student-athletes were ranked, with freshman Federica van Adrichem leading the way at #56. She has compiled a 21-13 overall record with a 12-9 mark in dual matches. Carol Salge, a sophomore from San Roque, Brazil, is ranked 62nd in the singles poll after boasting an overall record of 24-9, including a 17-6 ledger in the spring season. Senior Daniela Alvarez reentered the poll this week at #119. The native of Santa Cruz, Bolivia had been ranked 119th in the March 7 poll as well and has posted a 17-15 overall mark this year.

The women's tennis team joined volleyball as the second Siena team to qualify for the NCAA Tournament this season. This past weekend, men's golf earned an automatic bid as well, winning the conference championship in Orlando, Fla. The men will learn where they play on a Monday morning conference call.