Ni’am Azhar and his Cumberland University Tennis teammates will face 17th-ranked Warner University in the first round of the NAIA Men’s National Championships set for May 15-19 at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama.
Cumberland and Warner will play on Tuesday, May 15 at 1 p.m. with the winner facing top-ranked Fresno Pacific on May 16. Azhar and Cumberland defeated then 16th-ranked Warner, 9-0, on March 6 in Winter Haven, Florida.
Cumberland are making their second appearance in the National tournament since the team head-to-head format began in 2000. Cumberland played in the National Championships in 2008 and previously appeared in the National tournament in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
Cumberland (17-2) is ranked 16th nationally for the fifth straight ranking in the NAIA Men’s Tennis Coaches’ Top 25 Poll announced Monday by the national office. Cumberland’s two losses this season have come against 12th-ranked Lindsey Wilson and then eighth-ranked Xavier [LA] University.
Cumberland also has victories over Lee University, Campbellsville University, Martin Methodist (twice), Webber International and Warner, teams ranked at the time of the match and/or currently ranked in the Top 25.
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