CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's tennis team is set to make the 16th NCAA Team Tournament appearance in program history during the 2025 campaign. The Fighting Illini saw their name called as an at-large bid during Monday's NCAA Tournament Selection Show and are headed to Charlottesville, Virginia, to face No. 30 Arizona in the first-round action. The team will begin competition on Friday, May 2.
"I'm so proud of this squad as they have battled all year and are very deserving of an NCAA tournament berth, shared Illinois women's tennis head coach Evan Clark. "We still feel like are best tennis is ahead of us and we will look to display that this weekend at Virginia."
The Illini opened the 2025 postseason with a Big Ten Women's Tennis Tournament First Round win over 10th-seeded Northwestern. The victory allowed Illinois to make its 17th straight quarterfinal appearance – a streak that began in 2008. The Fighting Illini would bow out with a loss in the quarterfinals.
Illinois has finished with eight or more Big Ten victories in each of the last five seasons since COVID-19 ended the 2020 campaign. The Orange and Blue have won at least seven league matches in all nine completed seasons under head coach Evan Clark.
Across the 2025 dual campaign, Illinois has faced one of the toughest schedules. The Orange and Blue hosted the 2025 ITA Team Indoor Championships, where they faced three of the nation's top-six ranked squads and have ultimately competed again nine top-25 ranked teams this season. Illinois has won six matches away from home this season, including five true road matches.
Illinois has made the NCAA Tournament in three straight seasons for the first time under Clark and third time in program history. This season's NCAA appearance marks the fifth with Clark at the helm.
ILLINOIS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
- 2025 marks the 16th appearance for the Fighting Illini in the NCAA Championships.
- The Illini have a 4-15 record in NCAA Tournament play.
- Illinois has reached the Round of 32 four times in program history (2001, 2003, 2009, 2018).
QUICK GLANCE AT THE NCAA FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS
- No. 6 Virginia will host the event taking place at the Virginia Tennis Facility at the Boar's Head Resort.
- Illinois is 1-6 all-time against Arizona, who sits at 30th in the latest ITA ranking with an 18-9 overall record this year.
- FDU will face off against the host Cavaliers in the first round of competition.
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS SITE
The first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament will be played across 16 host sites from May 2-4, followed by super regionals featuring the 16 advancing teams from May 9-11. The final rounds, consisting of the final eight teams, will be played from May 15-18 at Baylor's Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas.
