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April 30, 2008

The University of Louisville's Austen Childs was selected to compete in the NCAA singles championship and will also join fellow freshman Simon Childs in the NCAA doubles championship. This marks the third consecutive year that U of L has had a doubles team in the NCAA doubles competition and the second time in three years, the Cards have competed in the singles championship.

The singles and doubles competition will be conducted May 21-26 at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, following the conclusion of the team championship (May 16-20). The University of Tulsa will serve as host.

"It is a great accomplishment when a program qualifies a singles player and doubles team to the NCAA Individual Championships," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "In 2006, we `triple-crowned' in NCAA events by also receiving a bid in the team championship. Although, we are still disappointed that we did not receive a team bid, we are very pleased with Austen Childs receiving a bid to the singles championship and Simon Childs and Austen receiving a bid in doubles. They were the highest nationally ranked doubles team in the Big East which automatically qualified them."

Austen Childs, a freshman from Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand, has compiled a 25-13 overall record and is 15-8 as the Cardinals' top-seeded player. Childs has appeared as high as No. 36 in the ITA singles rankings and is currently No. 43.

Austen Childs and Simon Childs (Hillington, England) stand in at No. 47 in the ITA doubles rankings after posting a 10-4 mark as the Cards' No. 1 doubles team. On Feb. 26, they debuted at No. 23, becoming the first freshman team in Louisville history to earn a top 25 ranking.

"Both of these players have put in a lot of hard work and effort this season and are well deserving of this," said Ecarma. "They not only played every match but usually at the top of the lineup or close to it. They are both freshmen and lead a young team whose starting lineup which boasted five All-Big East players. They are the cornerstones of a bright future for our program. With this experience I am hoping that they both learn to be team leaders. With another very good recruiting class coming in next fall, we definitely expect to achieve a "triple crown" next season."

The Cardinals finished the 2008 season with a 17-7 overall record and a fourth place finish in the BIG EAST.