Tuchband Selected for NCAA Singles Championship

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May 1, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Fourth-year Virginia women’s tennis player Jennifer Tuchband (Millburn, N.J.) was one of 64 individuals selected to participate in the 2003 NCAA singles championship, May 19-24 in Gainesville, Fla. The six-day tournament will determine the 2003 NCAA Singles National Champion.

Tuchband becomes the sixth Cavalier selected for the event, the first since Alison Cohen in 1996. This season, Tuchband has posted a 27-9 overall record, 17-6 in dual matches. An All-ACC honoree, she is currently ranked No. 70 in the nation. Her 27 singles wins is the most by a fourth-year in school history. Earlier this season, she was twice named the ACC Player-of-the-Week.

In addition to Tuchband’s selection to the singles draw, Tuchband and fellow fourth-year Henriette Williams (Raleigh, N.C.) were named first alternates for the 32-team NCAA doubles championship. The No. 38 ranked team of Tuchband and Williams went 19-10 this season. The doubles draw will run concurrent to the singles draw and the Cavalier duo will participate if any of the 32 teams selected withdraw.

“Jen was very deserving of this selection,” stated Virginia head coach Phil Rogers. “She has worked hard for the past four years and I am pleased to see it has paid off. It is a tremendous way for her to conclude her collegiate career. I think Jen and Henriette truly deserve to compete in the doubles tournament and hopefully they will get that opportunity.”

The Cavaliers went 15-9 on the season as a team and are ranked No. 34 in the nation. They will begin play in the 64-team NCAA team championships on May 10 in Knoxville, Tenn. against Ohio State at 10:00 a.m. If Virginia advances to the second round, they would play the winner of No. 7 seed Tennessee and Murray State for the right to advance to the round of 16 the following week in Gainesville, Fla.