No current Colorado Buffalo tennis players were members of the team four years ago when it was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round in a 4-0 blanking by the Michigan Wolverines.

But head coach Nicole Kenneally was coaching in the tournament for the first time, and the possibility of returning the favor didn't escape her as the Buffs found out their first trip back to the tournament since that 2003 loss would begin with a dual against Michigan.

The 64-team NCAA bracket was announced on Tuesday, and the Buffs and Wolverines will square off in the first round in South Bend, Ind., on either May 11 or 12. The victor faces the winner of the No. 6 Notre Dame/Illinois-Chicago matchup a day later with a trip to the Sweet 16 in Athens, Ga., on the line.

"That's definitely in the back of my mind," Kenneally said of avenging the loss to Michigan. "That would be nice."

The NCAA berth was just part of a big news day for the CU squad.

No. 1 singles player Monica Milewski was voted first team All-Big 12 Conference by the league's coaches. She was one of 12 singles players selected but one of just three consensus picks.

Kenneally, meanwhile, was voted the league's Coach of the Year by her peers.

"The girls have worked hard and they made me look good," Kenneally said.

As the Buffs' name appeared on the bracket on ESPNews' NCAA Tournament selection show, all of the players leaped out of their seats in the Dal Ward Athletic Center Auditorium. Although they knew that, at No. 37 in the country, they probably had a berth wrapped up, seeing it on the big screen helped it sink in.

"We had a great season, but tough luck last weekend," No. 5 singles player Gleisy Torres Torres said, referring to the Buffs' premature quarterfinal loss to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament. "But overall we had a great year and we deserve this as a team."

Milewski was in class during the show and found out about the Buffs' fate when a slew of text messages started coming in from her teammates.

"I kind of expected it," the sophomore said. "But when I got that first text I was really excited. It's nice to see that it's official. I have the butterflies right now."

Colorado is 0-4 in NCAA postseason play, with the 2003 loss the only appearance since the field went to the current 64-team format.

As one of the top 16 seeds, Notre Dame (25-3) earned the right to host the first two rounds and will be a heavy favorite over Illinois-Chicago. Colorado and Michigan, meanwhile, will be more evenly matched albeit entering the tournament on slightly different notes.

Michigan (16-7) is ranked 23rd in the country after falling to No. 5 Northwestern in the Big Ten Conference title match last weekend. The Buffs (16-7) are still licking their wounds from the loss to Oklahoma State on Friday.

Still, Kenneally sensed that her Buffs would use that setback as motivation to stay focused as they finish up final exams in the classroom and prepare for their one on the court.

"I think we're in a good place because I think everyone was pretty disappointed," Kenneally said. "So the practice that we're going to have here in a half an hour I expect to be pretty revved and ready to go. We are in, but let's not be satisfied with being in. Let's go and win in the tournament, and I think that's the next big step for this program."