WATERVILLE, Maine - The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) and Commissioner Marcella Zalot announced on Tuesday that the NAC has accepted Norwich University as an associate member for men's tennis beginning with the 2025 spring season.

The Norwich University Cadets' inclusion expands the conference's men's tennis membership to six institutions.  The Cadets join existing NAC members SUNY Delhi, Lesley University, Thomas College, Vermont State University Johnson, and Vermont State University Lyndon, making them one of the six programs competing as affiliate members of the Empire 8 in the spring of 2025.

The winner of the Empire 8 Championship will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA DIII National Tournament.

Norwich, a core member of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), has competed in men's tennis in the GNAC since 2000, which no longer offers an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament due to declining sport sponsorship.

"We are thrilled to have Norwich University join the NAC as an associate member in the sport of men's tennis," adds NAC Commissioner Marcella Zalot.  "The addition of the Cadets, along with the NAC's partnership with the Empire 8, solidifies our NCAA automatic qualifier standing and aligns with the geography of the current NAC membership.  Historically, Norwich has maintained a strong track record of athletic and academic excellence.  The Cadets' men's tennis program will be a welcome addition to our conference."

Norwich hosts home matches at Shapiro Fieldhouse, located on the campus in Northfield, Vt.  The 50,000 square-foot facility features four high-quality tennis courts.

"On behalf of our men's tennis program, I would like to thank Commissioner Marcella Zalot and the NAC presidents and athletic directors for accepting us into the conference as an associate member," says Norwich University Director of Athletics Ed Hockenbury.  "We appreciate being welcomed into the NAC, and I am excited about the opportunity for our student-athletes to compete in a conference that is a great fit for us at Norwich."

The Cadets enjoyed perennial success during their 24 years in the GNAC, including finishing as the conference runners-up in 2015 to Ramapo University.  Norwich collected four GNAC Player of the Year honors during that time, with Peter Hooper receiving the award in 2008 and 2009, followed by Collin Hyte in 2010 and 2012.  Three Cadets also earned GNAC Rookie of the Year plaudits, with Steve Couture in 2000, Fritz Kaebler in 2010, and Dylan Ackerman in 2017 all being recognized by the league.

The men's tennis team's existence dates back to 1927, with the program achieving varsity status in 1988-89.  Men's tennis joined the Constitution Athletic Conference in 1989-90 before transitioning to the GNAC in 1997-98.  Over the program's history, two different men's tennis players have been inducted into the Norwich Athletic Hall of Fame.  Earle Kelly '40, a two-sport athlete, was inducted in 1995, while Hyte '12 was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

"I am very excited for the Norwich men's tennis team to join the North Athletic Conference as an associate member for the upcoming season," added Head Coach Scott Barker.  "This is a great opportunity for the Norwich tennis team to compete in a tremendous league.  I look forward to the new challenge while forming new relationships with our NAC counterparts.  I would also like to thank the GNAC for all the support throughout the years."

The NAC recently announced a partnership with the Empire 8, with the six NAC institutions joining full-time E8 members Alfred University, Houghton University, Nazareth University, and St. John Fisher University, and fellow affiliate member SUNY Oswego, who is also joining in 2024-25.

The league will consist of two divisions (six-team East Division and five-team West Division) with each team playing its regular season schedule within its division during the Spring of 2025.

The top three teams from each division will make the 2025 Empire 8 Men's Tennis Championship Tournament.  The top team in each division will receive an opening round bye, while the No. 2 vs. No. 3 seeds in each division would play each other to determine the final four participants.  In 2025, the West Division No. 1 seed will host the semifinals and championship.  The top-seed in the West will play the lowest remaining East Division team in one semifinal on Friday, May 2, while the East No. 1 seed will play the lowest remaining West Division team in the second semifinal.  The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2025 Empire 8 Championship on Saturday, May 3.  The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth in the 2025 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship, which begins on Friday, May 9.

Looking ahead to the future, the West Division top-seed would host in odd years (2025, 2027, 2029) and in even years (2026, 2028, 2030), the East Division top-seed will host.

Norwich is slated to begin the NAC regular season on Saturday, Mar. 29, when the Cadets host SUNY Delhi in Shapiro Fieldhouse.  The Cadets will also host Vermont State University Johnson on Friday, Apr. 18.  Norwich's away schedule will include games at Lesley University, Thomas College, and Vermont State University Lyndon.

Large portion of release courtesy of the North Atlantic Conference office.