May 8, 2006

All the favorites return as Azusa Pacific University (Calif.), Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.) and College of Santa Fe (N.M.) lead the list of the 24 qualifying teams for the 2006 NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship in Mobile, Ala. at the Mobile Tennis Center.  The field consists of 24 teams, 13 automatic berths from region qualification and 11 at-large selections.  The team format competition will begin May 15 and continue through May 19. 

APU and Santa Fe battled for the national title last year while AUM defeated Azusa Pacific in the title match in 2004.  Auburn Montgomery leads the field with five national titles to its credit - 1987, 1995, 1996, 2002 and 2004.  Azusa has reached the championship in each of the last three seasons, losing to Oklahoma Christian in 2003 and losing to AUM in 2004 before winning it all last year.

The bracket along with match times will be released May 10 by 4 p.m. (Central). The following is a list of the 24 participating teams in alphabetical order and how each qualified for the national tournament.

Aquinas College (Mich.) - Region VIII Champion
Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.) - Region XIII Champion
Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) - Region II Champion
Benedictine College (Kan.) - At-Large #10
Berry College (Ga.) - At-Large #3
Bethany College (Kan.) - Region IV Champion
Cedarville University (Ohio) - Region IX Champion
Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) - Region XIV Champion
Flagler College (Fla.) - At-Large #11
Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) - Region XI Champion
Fresno Pacific University (Calif.) - At-Large #1
Graceland University (Iowa) - Region V Champion
Lee University (Tenn.) - at-Large #8
Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) - Region I Champion
Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) - At-Large #2
Nebraska Wesleyan University - Region III Champion
Northwood University (Fla.) - At-Large #4
Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) - Region VII Champion
Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) - At-Large #9
College of Santa Fe (N.M.) - Region VI Champion
Shorter College (Ga.) - At-Large #6
Vanguard University (Calif.) - At-Large #5
Virginia Intermont College - Region XII Champion
Webber International University (Fla.) - At-Large #7

Click here for more infomation on the 2006 National Championship.