The finals of the 2010 Sunshine State Conference Men's and Women's Tennis Championships will be an all Barry and Lynn affair, as both schools will vie for the title in men's and women's action on Saturday at the Dave Beerman Tennis Facility in Lakeland.
In Friday's semifinals, the top-seeded Lynn men downed No. 4 Rollins 5-0 to advance to the final. No. 2 Barry defeated No. 3 Florida Southern 5-0 to punch its ticket opposite the Knights in the championship tilt. The match will begin at 9 a.m. The squads also faced off in last year's championship final, with the Buccaneers claiming a 5-3 victory.
In Friday's women's semifinals, No. 1 Barry knocked off No. 4 Rollins 5-1, while No. 2 Lynn beat No. 3 Florida Southern by the same score. The Bucs and the Knights will compete for the the final at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
In other action set for Saturday, No. 3 Florida Southern will take on No. 4 Rollins in the men's third-place match at 9 a.m.. No. 5 Eckerd and No. 6 Florida Tech will battle for fifth place at 11:30 a.m. On the women's side of the bracket, No. 3 Florida Southern will battle with No. 4 Rollins in the third-place contest at noon. No. 5 Florida Tech will play No. 6 Nova Southeastern for fifth place at 2 p.m. Also at 2 p.m., No. 7 Saint Leo and No. 8 Eckerd will compete for seventh place.
All seven higher seeds cruised to wins on Thursday's opening day of the 2010 SSSC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships. The higher seeds surrendered just two points all day, with six teams nocthing 5-0 wins.
Results and box scores are being posted throughout the day on Florida Southern's host website.
All seven men’s teams are competing in the event, while the top eight women’s teams earned bids.
On the women’s side of the bracket, Barry earned the top seed in the tournament compliments of a perfect 8-0 record in SSC play. The Buccaneers, who are ranked No. 4 in the latest ITA Division II national poll, will open action against eighth-seeded Eckerd on Thursday at noon. The Tritons went 1-7 in conference competition.
Compiling a 7-1 mark in conference matches, Lynn secured the No. 2 seed. Ranked No. 2 nationally, the Fighting Knights will face No. 7 Saint Leo at 2 p.m. on Thursday. The Lions, who tallied a 2-6 SSC record, will face off against a Lynn squad that has won the last four SSC championships.
Host Florida Southern will carry the No. 3 seed into the tournament, having etched a 6-2 regular-season conference record. The Moccasins’ opponent will be sixth-seeded Nova Southeastern, which tallied a 3-5 SSC mark. Both squads are featured in the national rankings, as FSC is currently No. 14, and NSU is No. 27. The teams’ quarterfinal showdown will be at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Rollins will be the No. 4 seed in the championships, compliments of a 5-3 SSC slate. The No. 9 nationally-ranked Tars will square off at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday against No. 5 Florida Tech, who concluded the regular season with a 4-4 conference record and a No. 21 national ranking.
In men’s action, Lynn completed the regular-season schedule with a 6-0 SSC mark to nail down the top spot in the bracket. Ranked No. 3 in the most recent ITA Division II Men’s Tennis Poll, the Fighting Knights will earn a quarterfinal bye.
The No. 2 seed was awarded to Barry, which notched a 5-1 conference record. The Buccaneers, currently ranked No. 5 in the nation, will play seventh-seeded Saint Leo at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. The Lions posted an 0-6 SSC mark.
Host Florida Southern earned the No. 3 seed with a 4-2 performance against SSC competition. The No. 7 nationally-ranked Moccasins will tangle with sixth-seeded Florida Tech at 9 a.m. Thursday. Having compiled a 1-5 SSC mark, the Panthers are ranked No. 44 in Division II.
Rollins’ 3-3 conference record secured the fourth seed for the Tars, who will open tournament action against No. 5 Eckerd at 9 a.m. Thursday. The Tritons went 2-4 in the conference portion of their schedule. Rollins is ranked No. 8 in the current ITA poll, while Eckerd occupies the No. 41 slot.
WOMEN’S MATCH SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, APRIL 15
No. 4 Rollins 5, No. 5 Florida Tech 0
No. 1 Barry 5, No. 8 Eckerd 0
No. 2 Lynn 5, No. 7 Saint Leo 0
No. 3 Florida Southern 6, No. 6 Nova Southeastern 2
FRIDAY, APRIL 16
Women’s Semifinal - No. 1 Barry vs. No. 4 Rollins, 11:30 a.m.
Women’s Semifinal - No. 2 Lynn 5, No. 3 Florida Southern 1
Women’s Back Draw Match - No. 5 Florida Tech 5, No. 8 Eckerd 0
Women’s Back Draw Match - No. 6 Nova Southeastern 5, No. 7 Saint Leo 0
SATURDAY, APRIL 17
Women’s Championship Match - No. 1 Barry 5, No. 2 Lynn 2
Women’s 3rd Place Match - No. 4 Rollins 5, No. 3 Florida Southern 1
Women’s 5th Place Match - No. 5 Florida Tech 5, No. 6 Nova Southeastern 0
Women’s 7th Place Match - No. 7 Saint Leo 5, No. 8 Eckerd 3
MEN’S MATCH SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, APRIL 15
No. 3 Florida Southern 5, No. 6 Florida Tech 0
No. 4 Rollins 5, No. 5 Eckerd 0
No. 2 Barry 5, No. 7 Saint Leo 0
FRIDAY, APRIL 16
Men’s Semifinal - No. 1 Lynn 5, No. 4 Rollins 0
Men’s Semifinal - No. 2 Barry 5, No. 3 Florida Southern 0
Men’s Back Draw Match - No. 6 Florida Tech 5, No. 7 Saint Leo 0
SATURDAY, APRIL 17
Men’s Championship Match - No. 2 Barry 5, No. 1 Lynn 4
Men’s 3rd Place Match - No. 4 Rollins 5, No. 3 Florida Southern 1
Men’s 5th Place Match - No. 6 Florida Tech 5, No. 5 Eckerd 0