May 2, 2007

PENSACOLA, Fla. - After losing only their third match of the season in the finals of the Gulf South Conference Tournament two weeks ago, top-ranked West Florida will begin their quest for their third national championship. On Thursday and Friday, West Florida will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Division II National Tournament at the Ralph "Skeeter" Carson Tennis Complex.

Top seed West Florida (23-3) will host fourth seed Alabama-Huntsville (7-8) on Thursday at 10 a.m. CST. West Florida posted a 7-0 win over Alabama-Huntsville earlier this season on Mar. 9 in Pensacola. West Florida is 14-0 all-time against Alabama-Huntsville.

Diego Zorzi (Buenos Aires, Argentina), who missed the GSC Tournament with an injury, injury, is expected to play after compiling a 13-0 singles record during the regular season. He is currently ranked seventh in singles. Sixth-ranked Dante Bottini (Buenos Aires, Argentina) is 13-4 in singles, with all but one win in the first position.

West Florida also has two nationally-ranked doubles teams. The second-ranked duo of Bottini and Nicolas Barrientos (Cali, Colombia) has recorded a 20-3 record in first position doubles matches. Zorzi and Luis Arboleda (Medellin, Colombia) are the 19th ranked doubles team with a 19-1 record.

A victory on Thursday would advance West Florida to the second round against the winner of the Delta State and North Alabama match. Friday's second round match is set for 2 p.m. CST.