Hokie ClubNCAA ChampionshipsTournament Information BLACKSBURG, Va. - NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Subcommittee has selected Virginia Tech's Albert Larregola as one of the 64 singles players that will compete in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships hosted by the University of Tulsa. All-ACC honoree Larregola received an at-large selection to the tournament, becoming the first Hokie since Arvid Puranen in 2006 to join the field.
The singles and doubles competition will be conducted May 21-26 at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla., following the conclusion of the team championship (May 16-20). Pairings for the individual tournament will be released on May 20.
"What a great accomplishment for Albert," said Virginia Tech head men's tennis coach Jim Thompson. "He has worked extremely hard all four years and to see it rewarded like this is great. He has played some spectacular tennis this year and I hope he can make a run at the NCAA tournament. We are so very proud of him."
Larregola (Sr., Lleida, Spain) is ranked No. 45 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll. He posted a 12-9 dual match singles record this season, including a 4-6 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference, playing at the No. 1 position. Along the way, he picked up victories over current No. 5 Daniel Vallverdu (Miami), No. 24 J.P. Smith (Tennessee), No. 55 David Goulet (Duke), No. 68 Steven Forman (Wake Forest), No. 112 Robin Fahgen (SMU) and No. 115 Benjamin Carlotti (North Carolina).
In order for Larregola to become an All-American, he must win two matches to finish as one of the final 16 competitors at the championships.
Prior to participating in the event though, he will look to help the No. 30 Hokies (15-8) advance in the NCAA Tournament, beginning on Sat., May 10. The team will travel to Knoxville, Tenn. to play No. 37 Kentucky (12-15) in the first round at 2 p.m. on the campus of the University of Tennessee.