Six NAC Institutions to Join Empire 8 as Men’s Tennis Affiliate Members in 2024-25
WATERVILLE, Maine - The Empire 8 Conference is pleased to announce the addition of current North Atlantic Conference institutions SUNY Delhi, Lesley University, Norwich University, Thomas College, Vermont State University Johnson, and Vermont State University Lyndon as affiliate members in the sport of men’s tennis effective with the 2024-25 academic year.
“This is an exciting partnership with the NAC men’s tennis institutions,” said Empire 8 Executive Director Chuck Mitrano. “The additions will provide quality competitive opportunities for all student-athletes and a path to the NCAA Tournament.”
SUNY Delhi, Lesley, Norwich (an associate NAC member for men’s tennis), Thomas, VTSU Johnson and VTSU Lyndon will give the Empire 8 eleven members, ensuring the conference maintains its automatic berth into the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships. The six NAC institutions join 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 same 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 into 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.
Founded in 1998, the Empire 8 has developed into one of the premier NCAA Division III athletic conferences, both on the field and in the classroom. The conference consists of current full-time members Alfred University, SUNY Brockport, Elmira College, SUNY Geneseo, Hartwick College, Houghton College, Keuka College, Nazareth University, SUNY Poly, Russell Sage College, St. John Fisher University and Utica University.
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ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com and YouTube