April 24, 2003

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State earned their second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament as the bracket was released on Thursday. GVSU earned the third seed in the Great Lakes Regional and will play against #6 Southern Indiana in the first round of the tournament. The regional will be hosted at Midland Tennis Center in Midland, Mich. on Thursday and Friday, May 1-2, with times to be announced. The Lakers are ranked #21 in the country in the latest poll.

The Lakers enter the tournament with a 19-4 overall record on the 2002-03 season, including an 8-1 mark this spring. GVSU and Southern Indiana met earlier this season in Grand Rapids with the Lakers pulling out an 8-1 victory.

GVSU is led by junior Nikki Fairchild in singles action, as she has accumulated a 22-4 record in the second spot. Marie Cameron and Kellen Lynch have the best record as a tandem as they have tallied a 21-4 mark at #2 doubles.

The winner of the Grand Valley/Southern Indiana matchup will face the victor of the match between #2 Northern Michigan and #7 West Liberty State. That match will decide who heads to Altamonte Springs, Florida for the final 16 on May 8-11.