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Stanford well-represented in individual tourney

One day after the NCAA team brackets were announced, the Stanford tennis programs were once again well-represented among the singles and doubles selections for the 2011 NCAA Championships.

Only the selections were announced on Wednesday, the individual brackets will be released at a later date.

The individual portion of the NCAA Men's and Women's Tennis Championship is scheduled for May 25-30, with singles play kicking off on May 25 and the doubles competition getting underway on May 26.

Highlighting the selections on the men's side is junior Bradley Klahn, who will begin his title defense of the NCAA Singles Championship. Klahn and junior Ryan Thacher will compete in doubles.

Klahn is one of the eight No. 9-16 seeds. He's ranked No. 9 nationally with a 29-10 overall record. Thatcher is an at-large selection. He's ranked No. 46 nationally with a 23-13 overall record.

In doubles, Klahn and Thacher are one of four No. 5-8 seeds, despite being ranked No. 3 nationally. The duo is 37-5 overall and 17-1 in dual matches while playing every match at the No. 1 spot.

On the women's side, Stanford's stacked lineup includes five players participating in the singles draw while two doubles teams have also qualified.

Senior Hilary Barte is the No. 3 seed after being ranked No. 3 nationally. She is 25-5 overall.

Freshman Kristie Ahn is one of eight No. 9-16 seeds. She is ranked No. 15 nationally with a 36-3 overall record and is 18-0 in duals. She won the singles title last weekend at the Pac-10 Championships, becoming the first Stanford player to win the event since Gabriela Lastra in 2002.

Freshman Nicole Gibbs is an at-large selection. She is ranked No. 18 nationally with a 37-5 overall mark, including a 22-0 record in duals. Sophomore Mallory Burdette is another at-large selection. She is ranked No. 22 nationally with a 23-7 overall record. Sophomore Stacey Tan is also an at-large selection. She is ranked No. 43 nationally with a 24-8 overall record.

In doubles, the tandem of Barte and Burdette is the No. 4 seed. The two are ranked No. 3 nationally with a 20-6 overall mark. Fellow freshmen Ahn and Gibbs will go in as an at-large selection. They are ranked No. 34 nationally with a 21-9 overall mark.