Historic season continues for Catawba tennis, headed to NCAA championships
SALISBURY - Catawba College's tennis programs are heading west for an unprecedented moment in school history.
For the first time, both the Catawba men's and women's tennis teams have qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships, earning berths in the final rounds set to be held in Surprise, Arizona.
The milestone marks a breakthrough for the college's tennis program, with both teams advancing in the same postseason - and doing so on their home courts at the Johnson Tennis Center.
The Catawba women, ranked No. 7 nationally and seeded first in their region, secured their spot with a 4-2 victory over No. 15 North Georgia on Saturday. Lili Drukerova clinched the decisive point in dramatic fashion, rallying from a 0-40 deficit in the final game to win 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
Days later, the No. 7-ranked Catawba men matched the feat. The top-seeded Indians defeated No. 18 Wingate 4-2 on Tuesday, with Alessandro Valletta sealing the win. After dropping the opening set, Valletta rebounded to take the next two sets 6-2, 6-2.
The dual advancement underscores the growth of Catawba's tennis programs, which have steadily built into national contenders in recent years.
"This is what makes college athletics so powerful," said Michelle Caddigan, Catawba's vice president of athletics. "These teams have worked for this moment, but they have also brought people together. Their success is inspiring to our campus, our alumni and our community."
The NCAA Division II championships feature only a select group of elite programs, and it is rare for a school to qualify both its men's and women's teams in the same year.
For Catawba, the trip to Arizona represents more than a postseason appearance - it signals a new era for the program.
Both teams will now look to extend a season already considered among the most significant in school athletics history when they compete on the national stage.
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