By Holly Swanson
After qualifying in October, the IVCC women’s tennis team heads off to Tucson, Ariz. to compete in nationals, which begin May 6.
In 1999, the Lady Apaches placed third in the Region IV Division II series. Last fall, the women bounced back, finishing 14 –1 for the season, and placing first against ten teams in the region. McHenry also qualified for nationals by placing second.
In nationals, 48 teams will compete, two from each of the 24 regions in the U.S. Two brackets will be used to determine the number of points earned for each game. A team will score one point for a win in the winners bracket and a half a point for a game won in the losers bracket.
Coach Steve Crick explained that teams will be coming from all over the country including states like Texas, Arizona and Florida that have nice weather year around. Teams from those states are able to practice outdoors all year.
"We have our hands full against those southern states," Crick said, adding that the Lady Apaches should do well against teams from states like Indiana and Michigan.
The Lady Apache will not know who they face until a seeding meeting in Tucson on May 5.
The women will leave the Illinois Valley on May 4 and return on May 11.