Belmont, OVC & Horizon League Partner For Men’s Tennis Programs

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The Horizon League and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) announced a partnership of their men’s tennis member institutions beginning in the 2022-23 academic year. Belmont, who joined the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1, will also be joining this partnership as the MVC doesn’t sponsor men’s tennis.

“The changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics requires we have an openness to identifying new and creative ways to provide our student-athletes with outstanding competitive opportunities,” says OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. “The OVC programs and Belmont University are delighted to join the Horizon League programs and grateful to Commissioner Roe Lach and the Horizon League directors of athletics for their willingness to collaborate and embrace a new partnership model that illustrates how two likeminded conferences can work together to help provide opportunities for student-athletes, strengthen the sport of men’s tennis and maintain regional competition.”

The partnership will provide the men’s tennis member institutions a full complement of conference matches, a conference championship experience at the Horizon League championship and the opportunity for those teams eligible per NCAA rules to earn an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Championship.

The league competition will be split into two divisions. The South Division will consist of Belmont, Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, Southern Indiana, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech, while the North Division will include Chicago State, Cleveland State, IUPUI, Northern Kentucky and Youngstown State. Belmont will be joined with Chicago State as an added affiliate member.

“This is a tremendous day for our men’s tennis program,” says Belmont Vice President, Director of Athletics Scott Corley. “It marks the culmination of months of work between conferences and member institutions. We thank the Horizon League, OVC and fellow members, and are proud to participate in this venture to benefit men’s tennis student-athletes. From accomplishment on the national stage to opening the Crockett Center for Athletic Excellence, our men’s tennis program has undeniable positive momentum. With the leadership of Director of Tennis Mauricio Antun and today’s conference affiliation announcement, we look forward to what lies ahead.”

Belmont men’s tennis has won seven conference championships – six in the last eight years – including two NCAA Tournament appearances. The doubles team of Hendrik Inno and Marko Ilic earned a No. 8 national ranking, reached the NCAA Championship Round of 16 and won the ITA fall regional championship.

Steven Boero
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