TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –– The Alabama men’s tennis team is set to face No. 25 Pepperdine in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the organization revealed Monday. The two teams will face off in Stanford, Calif., on Friday at noon CT.  

The Crimson Tide (15-12) will make its 22^nd overall appearance, and sixth under head coach George Husack, when the team goes head-to-head with Pepperdine (16-10).

The match between the Tide and Waves will be the 11^th meeting in series history and first since 2019. The winner of Friday’s match will advance to the tournament’s second round to face the winner of host school and fifth-ranked Stanford and New Mexico.

“Always an honor to compete in May. We’ve had shining moments this year and I’m proud of the guys for earning this opportunity. It’s never an automatic invite. Our countless 4-3 battles this season have given us thicker skin and the confidence that we can compete well no matter the challenges. It has been a full team effort and included many hands not holding a tennis racket that have kept us moving forward.

“On a personal level it’s a homecoming. I grew up twenty minutes from Palo Alto and also lived near campus for many years. I attended tennis camps, saw my first college match and was lucky to win a national team championship (with USC) all at Stanford. So, lots of memories there as well as family and friends all over the Bay Area. Pepperdine has a long tradition of success as I competed against them annually in my three previous coaching stints (USC, Illinois & Santa Clara). They are very well coached, are tough competitors and a tight team. I’m excited for us as it should be a great match. March had its madness and now it’s time for our May-hem.”

Alabama in the NCAA Tournament

• The Crimson Tide will make its 22nd appearance at the NCAA Tournament and sixth under head coach George Husack
• It marks the Tide’s second consecutive year reaching the tournament, after securing a spot to the Big Dance in 2024
• Husack has also coached the Tide to NCAA Tournament berths in 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2021

  • There was no NCAA Tournament in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic

• The Tide will make its first back-to-back appearance in the NCAA Tournament since it notched a three-year invite from 2018-21
• UA made its first trip to the NCAA Championships in 1989

About the Crimson Tide

• The Tide is paced by four-time All-Southeastern Conference Team honoree and 2024 NCAA Singles Champion, Filip Planinsek
• Planinsek, who took the fall off to play professionally and missed part of the spring for the Davis Cup, holds a 16-3 overall record at the No. 1 singles spot and enters the NCAA Tournament ranked 19^th nationally in the event
• In doubles action, Damien Nezar and Andrii Zimnokh have rolled to a top-15 national ranking, entering Friday’s match with a No. 14 ranking thanks to a 15-6 overall record and a 6-2 run from the No. 1 spot
• Additionally, Planinsek and Matic Kriznik rank 37^th nationally in doubles play as Roan Jones ranks 81^st in singles action
• The Tide has battled this season as the team has fought to a 4-3 score in 12 matches, including four of the last five competitions
• Notable 4-3 victories from the year include a win over then-No. 15 Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky and Auburn, in addition to a 4-3 win over Vanderbilt in the opening round of the SEC Tournament