BYU selected for first NCAA Tournament since 2007, to face Auburn Friday in Berkeley

INDIANAPOLIS — BYU women's tennis was selected to its 18th all-time NCAA Tournament and first since 2007 with an at-large bid announced on Thursday. The Cougars will face Auburn on May 3 in the first round hosted by Cal at the Hellman Tennis Complex. 

For the first time since 2007, the Cougs are heading to the NCAA Tournament!! 🤙 #GoCougs | #BYUWTEN

— BYU Women's Tennis (@byuwtennis) April 29, 2024

“It was exciting waiting for our name to be called. At the start of the year, we set a goal to make the NCAA tournament," said head coach Holly Hasler. "These ladies have worked day in and day out for this opportunity, and I am very proud of their perseverance and commitment. “

BYU will play Auburn in the first round with a chance to advance to the second round on Saturday. The No. 10 seeded Golden Bears will face Sacramento State in their opening matchup. The winner of the Cougars/Tigers match and the Golden Bears/Hornets match will face-off on Saturday. 

The match with Auburn will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. BYU is familiar with playing in Berkeley, as its competed in the Cal Fall Invitational in each of the last three seasons. 

The Cougars finished their historic regular season with 17 wins, the most since 2007, along with eight conference victories for a fifth-place finish in their inaugural Big 12 campaign. 

The Big 12 has six teams in the tournament, led by No. 1 overall seed Oklahoma State.

BYU and Auburn will square off at 11:00 AM PDT and Cal/Sacramento State will compete at 2:00 PM following the conclusion of the Cougars' match. 

BYU Notes

• The Cougars are currently 17-7. BYU finished the regular season 16-6 and 8-5 in Big 12 play. 
• During the Big 12 Tournament, the Cougars defeated Iowa State 4-0 in the first round and fell to Texas Tech 4-0 in the second round. 
• Head coach Holly Hasler is in her sixth season with a record of 75-54. Assistant coach Gabby Curtis is in her third season.
• Bobo Huang (16-5) leads the Cougars in singles victories with 16. 
• Tina Li (11-8) and Kendall Kovick (11-9) are tied for second on the team in singles victories with 11 wins. 
• Senior Emilee Astle sits at 9-5 in singles on the year. 
• The doubles team of Kaavya Sawhney/Huang is 16-3 this season together as a partnership. 
• Astle and Kovick are ranked No. 47 nationally as a doubles tandem. The duo has an 8-6 record in 2024 together.
• Huang is currently ranked No. 118 in singles nationally.
• BYU is ranked No. 42 in the country.
• The Cougars have four victories over ranked opponents this season.
• BYU's eight Big 12 victories in 2024 are the most conference victories in a season under head coach Hasler since she began leading the program in 2018.
• The Cougars' 17 victories this year are their most in a season since 2007, when BYU won 22 matches.

Auburn Notes

• The Tigers are currently 16-10. Texas Tech finished the regular season 15-9 and 9-4 in SEC play.
• During the SEC Tournament, Auburn defeated Kentucky 4-0 in the first round and fell to Tennessee 4-3 in the second round. 
• Interim head coach Lester Cook leads the program. 
• The Tigers are ranked No. 17 in the country.
• Carolyn Ansari (8), DJ Bennett (67) and Ariana Arseneault (87) are currently ranked nationally in singles. 
• Arseneault/Bennett (11), Adeline Flach/Angella Okutoyi (55) and Selin Ovunc/Bennett (64) are ranked nationally in doubles. 

Team championship schedule 

• May 3-4 or 4-5: First and second round for the team championship
• May 10-11: Super regionals for the team championship
• May 17: Quarterfinals for the team championship
• May 18: Semifinals for the team championship
• May 19: Team championship final