MOBILE, Ala. – Both the Lewis-Clark State College men’s and women’s tennis teams are looking to show off the dividends of playing a tough regular-season schedule when the NAIA national tournaments kick off Monday at the Mobile Tennis Center. 

The schedules for both Warrior teams included several NCAA Division I opponents as well as a tough spring break trip to California to face some of the top NAIA teams in the country. 

Because of the schedule, neither Warrior team enters national play with an impressive record. The men’s team, which is playing in its eighth straight national tournament, is 9-10 overall, while the LCSC women’s team, which is making its 11th straight appearance, is 8-9 overall. Both teams claimed the Region I berth after being the highest-ranked team from the region. In the final NAIA polls of the season, the women are ranked No. 18, while the men are ranked No. 20. 

The top-ranked men’s team in each of the 13 regions earned automatic berths to this year’s national tournament, while the remaining 11 teams were the highest ranked teams in the NAIA polls not to claim to a top spot. On the women’s side, there were 14 regional winners and 10 at-large berths. 

Both LCSC teams face tough openers on Monday. The men’s team will open at 6 a.m., Pacific Time, against Webber International of Florida. Webber International is 14-7 overall and ranked No. 14 in the NAIA. On the women’s side, LCSC faces Lee of Tennessee at 10 a.m., Pacific Time. Lee is 13-5 overall and ranked No. 16. 

LCSC and Webber International met in the first round last year, when LCSC was ranked No. 21 and Webber was No. 12. LCSC claimed a 6-3 win, but Warrior coach Kai Fong points out that both teams have different lineups this year. 

“Our goal is not to have any expectations based on the results of last year,” Fong says. “We have not hit our stride yet this year, and we have been working harder to prepare for this tournament.” 

The LCSC-Webber International winner will face No. 3 seed Embry-Riddle of Florida in Tuesday’s second round. The top eight seeds receive a bye on Monday. 

On the women’s side, LCSC and Lee haven’t met before, but Lee comes out the NAIA’s toughest region. They are the fifth-ranked team from Region XIII and, like LCSC, have played a tough schedule this season. 

“They look like a well-rounded team with some players who have undefeated records in the lower positions,” Fong says. “We should match up well with the Lady Flames and we are anticipating a close match. They are definitely the favorite based on their higher ranking, but this will be an exciting match for us.” 

The LCSC-Lee winner won’t have it easy on Tuesday. The winner will get top-ranked and defending champion Auburn-Montgomery. 

Both tournaments continue through the week with the championship matches set for Friday.