Iowa State Media Relations
AMES, Iowa – The rise of the Iowa State tennis team under the direction of third-year head coach Boomer Saia has been like something for the movies, and it culminated today with the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
The Cyclones will head to Raleigh, North Carolina to face South Carolina on Friday, May 7 at 11 a.m. (CT). The winner of the Iowa State-South Carolina match will face either North Carolina State (16-5) or VCU (14-9).
“This is a tremendous moment for our program,” Saia said. “I am incredibly proud of our student-athletes for their effort and determination. Making the NCAA Tournament out of a league like the Big 12 Conference is not easy and it speaks to the hard work that our players have put in and the belief they had in themselves, their teammates and this program.”
In Saia’s first season in 2018-19, the Cyclones went 6-12 overall and 2-7 in Big 12 Conference play. This season, Iowa State finished the regular season 13-7 overall and 4-4 in Big 12 action, earning wins against four ranked opponents. The ranked victories were the first in school history.
The Cyclones have won 17-straight home matches under Saia and on April 23 won the first Big 12 Championship match in school history, defeating then-No. 29 Texas Tech, 4-1. It was ISU’s second win against Texas Tech this season after losing the first 28 matches in series history. ISU also became the first six seed in current Big 12 Tournament format to defeat a three seed.
Saia is 28-24 as Iowa State’s head coach, owing the best winning percentage among Cyclone head tennis coaches with at least three seasons leading the program. ISU is 22-12 the last two seasons.
Six Big 12 Conference teams were selected to participate in the NCAA Tournament.
AMES, Iowa – The rise of the Iowa State tennis team under the direction of third-year head coach Boomer Saia has been like something for the movies, and it culminated today with the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
The Cyclones will head to Raleigh, North Carolina to face South Carolina on Friday, May 7 at 11 a.m. (CT). The winner of the Iowa State-South Carolina match will face either North Carolina State (16-5) or VCU (14-9).
“This is a tremendous moment for our program,” Saia said. “I am incredibly proud of our student-athletes for their effort and determination. Making the NCAA Tournament out of a league like the Big 12 Conference is not easy and it speaks to the hard work that our players have put in and the belief they had in themselves, their teammates and this program.”
In Saia’s first season in 2018-19, the Cyclones went 6-12 overall and 2-7 in Big 12 Conference play. This season, Iowa State finished the regular season 13-7 overall and 4-4 in Big 12 action, earning wins against four ranked opponents. The ranked victories were the first in school history.
The Cyclones have won 17-straight home matches under Saia and on April 23 won the first Big 12 Championship match in school history, defeating then-No. 29 Texas Tech, 4-1. It was ISU’s second win against Texas Tech this season after losing the first 28 matches in series history. ISU also became the first six seed in current Big 12 Tournament format to defeat a three seed.
Saia is 28-24 as Iowa State’s head coach, owing the best winning percentage among Cyclone head tennis coaches with at least three seasons leading the program. ISU is 22-12 the last two seasons.
Six Big 12 Conference teams were selected to participate in the NCAA Tournament.
