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By RODNEY PAGE
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 9, 2001
Eckerd College will make its first appearance in the NCAA Division II men's national championship tournament Thursday at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, and Tritons coach Scott Dei said he isn't just happy to be there.
"I'm not doing back flips over this," said Dei, in his 11th season at Eckerd. "At the beginning of the season, I knew this is where we should be. I don't want the guys to be just happy to be here. I want to try to win the darn thing."
Eckerd (17-4) begins play at 8 a.m. Thursday against Abilene (Texas) Christian. The 16-team tournament ends Sunday.
The Tritons will rely on Marton Balla, Sebastian Libortino, Jens Garberding and Glen Allsop. Allsop has lost only one match this season as the No. 3 player. Libortino has lost only twice.
"If we had a team most valuable player, it would be Allsop," Dei said.
Eckerd advanced by defeating Augusta State and Florida Southern in the regionals.