ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — For the first time since their only NCAA selection in 1998, Griffon Tennis is breaking old trends and will be playing in the Central Region Tournament just days after its first-ever MIAA Championship appearance as a team.

THE SELECTION + THE MATCHUP

The NCAA announced Missouri Western (17-5, 6-2 MIAA) as the No. 5 seed. The Griffons will play No. 4 Harding (17-5) on Friday, May 6 at 11 a.m. at the host site of Edmond, Oklahoma. The winners goes to face No. 1 Central Oklahoma (16-1). 

The Griffons and the Bison battled this season back on March 12 in Searcy, Arkansas. Missouri Western fought hard early on and won the doubles point, but Harding won the majority of singles play to take the match, 43.

On May 6-7, a maximum of 48 teams will play a single-elimination tournament at 16 preliminary-round tournaments to determine the 16-team field. There will be 20 conferences that will receive automatic qualification.

CENTRAL REGIONAL SEEDS
No. 1 seed – Central Oklahoma (16-1)
No. 2 seed – Augustana (20-1)
No. 3 seed – Southeastern Oklahoma (14-7)
No. 4 seed – Harding (17-5)
No. 5 seed – Missouri Western (15-5)
No. 6 seed – Washburn (13-11)

THE BRACKET
Central Region #1
Friday, May 6: No. 4 Harding vs. No. 5 Missouri Western — 11 a.m.
Saturday, May 7: Day 1 winner vs. No. 1 Central Oklahoma — 11 a.m.

Central Region #2
Friday, May 6: No. 3 Southeastern Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Washburn — 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 7: Day 1 winner vs. No. 2 Augustana