CARY, N.C. -- The 2012 Tennis On Campus National Championship kicked off Thursday with round-robin play at the Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C. - but that's not the whole story about Day 1.

 

As mentioned, opening day of the USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship at Cary Tennis Park blew by much like the chill Carolina winds - with temperatures around 40 degrees at first ball - narrowing the field of 64 to 16 contenders for the ultimate prize in the Gold division.

 

In true Tennis On Campus spirit, the club tennis teams showed great sportsmanship across the board. The energy didn’t stop off the court. Teams enjoyed the sun - once it warmed up the complex in the afternoon - music and spirited games of bean bag toss around the park.

 

Newcomers Columbia University, Davidson College, Purdue University, Tulane University, University of Cincinnati and Washington State earned their colleges’ first-ever bids to the national tournament based on their performance at sectionals. 

 

USTA Tennis On Campus Leader of the Year, Matthew Ship, led the University of Wisconsin – Madison team to the gold bracket though pool play. The Badgers defeated reigning Tennis On Campus National Champion UCLA along the way. 

 

USTA Tennis On Campus Club of the Year University of Maryland – College Park will be honored April 14, 2012 by the USTA for its exemplary dedication to the sport of tennis and a commitment to community service initiatives.

 

Several sections were well-represented going into the gold bracket including USTA Southern California represented by UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly and USC, while UC Berkeley, Stanford University and UC Davis from USTA Northern California. Local powerhouse Duke is still in the running from the USTA Southern section.

 

Other teams that played their way into the Gold division include: University of Arizona, Penn State, University of Virginia, University of Central Florida, University of Texas, University of Florida and University of South Florida.

 

Pool play was intense from the get go with teams vying for placement into division flights.  Play pools consisted of four unique college and university teams each with winners advancing to either Gold, Silver, Bronze or Copper bracket play.  Several pools came down to the wire,  including a three-way tie in Pool C between the University of Illinois, University of Colorado and University of Oregon – placing first, second and third respectively with World TeamTennis rules determining the final victor.  

 

For a complete listing of gold, silver, bronze and copper brackets, visit the Tennis On Campus website.