ACU set to host LSC championships

ACU men, women enter as defending champions

ABILENE -- Abilene Christian University is set to host the annual Lone Star Conference men's and women's team championships, which get underway Thursday morning at various sites in Abilene.

There are eight women's teams and six men's teams competing in the single-elimination tournament, which begins with women's quarterfinal duels at 8:00 Thursday morning. Men's first-round matches begin at 10 a.m. Thursday.

The action continues Thursday afternoon with women's semifinal duels at 1 p.m. and men's semifinals at 4 p.m.

The championship match for men is set for 9 a.m. Friday, with the women's starting shortly after at 10:15 a.m.

Most matches will be played at ACU's Eager Tennis Center, but Rose Park and Fairway Oaks facilities will be used for some first-round matches.  Seedings for the tournament will be based upon results from regular-season play within the LSC.

Host ACU is the No. 1 seed in the women's bracket and will played No. 8 Central Oklahoma in the opening round. Northeastern State notched the No. 2 seed and opens against No. 7 Eastern New Mexico, while third-seeded Midwestern State challenges No. 6 East Central and fourth-seeded Cameron meets No. 5 Tarleton State.

ACU is the defending women's champion, having defeated Northeastern State by a 5-0 count in last year's championship bout.

On the men's side, ACU again is the No. 1 seed and the Wildcats will receive a first-round bye along with No. 2 seed Cameron. Third-seeded Midwestern State will play No. 6 Southeastern Oklahoma and fourth-seeded East Central plays No. 5 Central Oklahoma in the opening round.

Abilene Christian is looking a fourth straight men's championship, while Cameron hopes to break through after two straight runner-up finishes.

LSC MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
MEN
Thursday, April 21
First Round
10 a.m. -- Midwestern St. (#3) vs. Southeastern Okla. (#6) at Rose Park Tennis Center
10 a.m. -- East Central (#4) vs. Central Okla. (#5) at Rose Park Tennis Center
Semifinals
4 p.m. -- MSU-SOSU winner vs. Cameron (#2) at Eager Tennis Center
4 p.m. -- ECU-UCO winner vs. Abilene Christian (#1) at Eager Tennis Center
Friday, April 22
Championship
9 a.m. -- Semifinal winners at Eager Tennis Center

WOMEN
Thursday, April 21
First Round
8 a.m. -- Abilene Christian (#1) vs. Central Oklahoma (#8) at Eager Tennis Center
8 a.m. -- Eastern New Mexico (#7) vs. Northeastern St. (#2) at Eager Tennis Center
8 a.m. -- Midwestern St. (#3) vs. East Central (#6) at Fairway Oaks Country Club
8 a.m. -- Cameron (#4) vs. Tarleton State (#5) at Fairway Oaks Country Club
Semifinals
1 p.m. -- ACU-UCO  winner vs. TSU-CU winner at Eager Tennis Center
1 p.m. -- MSU-ECU winner vs. ENMU-NSU winner at Eager Tennis Center
Friday, April 22
Championship
10:15 a.m. -- Semifinal winners at Eager Tennis Center