WINTER PARK, Fla. -- Pairings are set for the 2013 Sunshine State Conference Tennis Championships, which will be hosted next Thursday-Saturday at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton, Fla. Florida Tech is serving as the host for this year's tournament. The SSC is partnering with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission in hosting the event at South County Regional Park.
Barry has clinched the top seed in the women's bracket, having rolled to a perfect 21-0 overall record this spring, including an 8-0 slate against conference opponents. The Buccaneers will face eighth-seeded Nova Southeastern in quarterfinal action on Thursday, April 18, at 9 a.m.
The Sharks finished the regular season with a 7-11 overall record and 2-6 SSC mark. Florida Tech (14-8 overall) also posted a 2-6 conference record, but the Panthers took the No. 7 seed by virtue of a 7-2 win over the Sharks in the teams' regular-season meeting.
As such, No. 7 Florida Tech will face off with No. 2 Saint Leo at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. Saint Leo has tallied a 14-4 overall record and 6-1 SSC mark with one conference match remaining against Eckerd on Friday afternoon. Nevertheless, the Lions have already secured the No. 2 seed regardless of that outcome, having defeated third-seeded Lynn 5-4 in a regular-season contest.
No. 3 Lynn (14-3, 6-2 SSC) will face No. 6 Tampa (14-5, 3-5 SSC) at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
The other 9 a.m. women's quarterfinal will feature No. 4 Rollins vs. No. 5 Florida Southern. The Tars (14-4) and Moccasins (15-5) both collected a 4-4 SSC record, but Rollins took the higher seed due to a 5-4 decision over Southern in the teams' regular-season match.
Thursday's quarterfinal winners will advance to the women's semifinals, which will be played at 9 a.m. on Friday. Quarterfinal losers will compete in a backdraw bracket on Friday.
Barry also rolled to the top seed in the men's bracket. The Buccaneers have chalked an unblemished 20-0 overall record and 6-0 conference mark. The Bucs will enjoy a quarterfinal bye.
Lynn secured the No. 2 seed with a 14-5 overall record and 5-1 SSC slate. The Fighting Knights will tangle with No. 7 Eckerd at 11:30 a.m. in Thursday's quarterfinal round. The Tritons have one SSC match remaining against Saint Leo on Friday afternoon, but the outcome of the match will not impact their seed.
Similarly, Saint Leo has secured the No. 3 seed regardless of its outcome versus the Tritons on Friday afternoon. Heading into that match, the Lions have posted a 13-4 overall mark and a 3-2 conference record. They have secured the third seed by virtue of a 5-4 win over Rollins in the teams' regular-season meeting.
As such, No. 3 Saint Leo will face off with No. 6 Florida Tech (11-10, 1-5) at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. No. 4 Rollins (11-6, 3-3 SSC) will play No. 5 Florida Southern (13-8, 2-4 SSC) in the other men's quarterfinal at 11:30 a.m.
Thursday's winners will play in Friday's men's semifinals at 11:30 a.m. The losers of the Lynn/Eckerd and Saint Leo/Florida Tech matches will play each other in a Friday backdraw match. The loser of the Rollins/Florida Southern contest will not play again until Saturday's final day of action.
South County Regional Park is located at 11200 Park Access Road, Boca Raton, FL. Admission is free to all matches of the 2013 SSC Tennis Championships.
2013 SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Quarterfinals - Thursday, April 18
9 a.m.
(Women) - No. 1 Barry vs. No. 8 Nova Southeastern
(Women) - No. 3 Lynn vs. No. 6 Tampa
(Women) - No. 4 Rollins vs. No. 5 Florida Southern
11:30 a.m.
(Women) - No. 2 Saint Leo vs. No. 7 Florida Tech
(Men) - No. 2 Lynn vs. No. 7 Eckerd
(Men) - No. 4 Rollins vs. No. 5 Florida Southern
1:30 p.m.
(Men) - No. 3 Saint Leo vs. No. 6 Florida Tech
Semifinals and Backdraw - Friday, April 19
9 a.m.
Women's Semifinal: Winner No. 1/8 vs. Winner No. 4/5
Women's Semifinal: Winner No. 2/7 vs. Winner No. 3/6
Women's Backdraw: Loser No. 1/8 vs. Loser No. 4/5
11:30 a.m.
Women's Backdraw: Loser No. 2/7 vs. Loser No. 3/6
Men's Semifinal: No. 1 Barry vs. Winner No. 4/5
Men's Semifinal: Winner No. 2/7 vs. Winner No. 3/6
1:30 p.m.
Men's Backdraw: Loser No. 2/7 vs. Loser No. 3/6
Championships and Consolation Matches - Saturday, April 20
9 a.m.
Women's Championship: Semifinal Winners
Women's 7th Place: Backdraw Losers
11:30 a.m.
Women's 3rd Place: Semifinal Losers
Women's 5th Place: Backdraw Winners
12:30 p.m.
Men's Championship: Semifinal Winners
2:30 p.m.
Men's 3rd Place: Semifinal Losers
Men's 5th Place: Backdraw Winner vs. Loser 4/5 (from Thursday)