INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The NCAA tonight released its brackets for the NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Tournament. Edinboro, runner-up in the PSAC, earned the three seed for the Atlantic Region II Tournament, hosted by second-seeded Mercyhurst. The Fighting Scots will face the Lakers in a rematch of the PSAC Championship on Saturday, May 11 at 12 noon. The winner will move on to the NCAA Division II National Championships in Altamonte Springs, Fla. on May 21-24.
The Fighting Scots, who are 15-6, will compete in their sixth straight NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament after appearing in their seventh consecutive PSAC Championship last weekend. Edinboro defeated Millersville, 4-0, in the semifinals on Friday, but dropped a hard-fought finals match to Mercyhurst on Saturday by a 4-2 decision.
This marks the second straight year second-year coach
Kody Duncan has guided the Fighting Scots to postseason action. A year ago, Edinboro fell to Fairmont State, 5-3, in the semifinals of the Atlantic Regional I. Edinboro lost to Mercyhurst in the semifinals in 2017, but in 2016 the Fighting Scots won the regional with a 5-3 win over Mercyhurst to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second time in school history. They would fall to second-ranked Armstrong State. Edinboro made the Sweet 16 for the first time in 2014.
Mercyhurst comes into the regional with a 17-3 record after winning the PSAC title. The Fighting Scots played the Lakers twice this season, dropping the regular season matchup, 5-2, in Edinboro with Mercyhurst winning the second in the conference title match, 4-2. The last time the two teams met in the NCAA Tournament, Mercyhurst won a tight 5-4 decision in 2017 in the first round of the Atlantic Regional.
The Edinboro lineup features a mixture of experience and youth. Three seniors are joined by three freshmen, two who joined the program in January. Seniors
Mateus Santos,
Mauricio Santos, and
Kevin Mboko have been key performers for Edinboro for several years.
Mateus Santos has a 12-17 record while playing number one singles, while
Mauricio Santos lines up at number two and has a 20-7 record to lead the team in wins. Mboko comes in with a 14-8 ledger at number five singles, but was forced to retire in his last match against Mercyhurst with an injury.
Duncan balanced the veterans with three freshmen.
Nils Plutat is 15-4 at number three singles,
Tommy Hsu is 14-6 while playing number four singles, and
Julius Schulte is 14-8 at six singles.
Mboko and Schulte have combined for a 6-12 record at number one doubles, while
Mateus Santos and Hsu are 10-3 at number two doubles.
Mauricio Santos and Plutat play number three doubles and are undefeated at 10-0.
