DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle men's tennis team will continue its quest for a national championship at the 2013 NAIA Men's Tennis National Championships. The 62nd edition of the annual event will take place May 14-18 at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala.
 
Embry-Riddle holds the distinction of being the only team in this year's 24-team field to have competed in every NAIA national tournament since the championship moved to a team format in 2000. Led by Sun Conference Player of the Year and ITA/NAIA national singles champions Chris Freeman (2011) and Patrick Besch (2012), the Eagles enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history. Currently 20-2 on the year, the Blue and Gold earned an automatic bid by winning its fifth consecutive Sun Conference tournament title.
 
As the tournament's top seed, the Eagles will have a bye in the first round and will take the court for the first time at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15 against the winner of Tuesday's match between Northwestern Ohio and Lewis-Clark State. The Eagles are 2-0 all-time against Northwestern Ohio, including an 8-1 defeat of the Racers earlier this season (Mar. 29). ERAU and Lewis-Clark State last faced each other in the 2001 national tournament when the Warriors edged the Eagles 5-4. That all-time series stands even at 1-1.
 
This year's 24 teams include 13 automatic qualifiers – awarded to conference/independent/unaffiliated group tournament champions – 10 at-large bids and one host berth. The 10 at-large selections were determined by the final NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll released Monday. Mobile of the Southern States Athletic Conference, received the host berth.
 
NeuLion, the NAIA's official video-streaming company of 12 select NAIA national championship events, will be broadcasting the championship match on May 18. Streaming of the championship match will be free.

Click here for complete bracket