Dayton’s Benjamin to play Tulane senior in first round of NCAA championships

Match starts at 8 a.m. Wednesday

Dayton Flyers junior Jordan Benjamin will face Tulane senior Constantin Schmitz at 8 a.m.  Wednesday in the first round of the NCAA tennis championship at Wake Forest University. The bracket was announced Tuesday.

Benjamin will be the first UD tennis player to play in the national tournament.

» RELATED: Benjamin makes UD history

Benjamin finished the regular season 16-0 in dual matches. He’s 20-1 overall in singles play. He was named A-10 Performer of the Year. He ranks 121st in the International Tennis Association Division I rankings.

Schmitz, a native of Germany, ranks 15th in the nation. He’s 28-8 in singles play.

“I’ve been training hard these last couple days, and I will continue to do so in the upcoming weeks,” Benjamin said earlier this month. “My goal is to win a couple rounds. The dream would be to win it all, but you’ve got to make some small goals. I think these first couple rounds will be very winnable. I have to stay focused, prepare very well and let my tennis do the talking.”

Benjamin or Schmitz will play Georgia Tech’s Carlos Divar, who ranks 55th, or Memphis’ Ryan Peniston, who ranks 36th.

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