麻豆原创 (NCWU) will serve as host site for the this weekend, welcoming some of the nation鈥檚 top programs to Rocky Mount for a high-stakes postseason competition.
The tournament will take place Friday through Sunday, May 8鈥11, with teams arriving on campus Thursday for practice sessions. The championship format features team competition, with both singles and doubles matches contributing to the overall team score.
NC Wesleyan will be one of six teams competing in the tournament, along with , , , , and .
鈥淏eing selected to host an NCAA postseason competition reflects positively on NC Wesleyan鈥檚 facilities, operations, and overall commitment to providing a high-quality student-athlete experience,鈥 said Madison Morrison, Assistant Athletic Director. 鈥淚t speaks to the trust the NCAA has in our ability to execute a championship-level event.鈥
Hosting responsibilities involve extensive planning and campus collaboration. From preparing facilities to coordinating travel and accommodations for teams and officials, the event requires alignment across athletics staff, facilities teams, and multiple campus partners.
鈥淭here is extensive coordination involved, including facility preparation, team and officials鈥 travel and accommodations, scheduling, compliance with NCAA championship protocols, and ensuring a strong game-day environment,鈥 Morrison said. 鈥淚t is a collaborative effort across athletics, facilities, and campus partners.鈥
Tennis Head Coach Albie Brice highlighted the tradition NC Wesleyan tennis has built in recent years and the significance of being selected once again as a regional host site.
鈥淭he Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 programs have established a tradition of excellence through unwavering dedication and hard work both on and off the court,鈥 Brice said. 鈥淭his marks the third time the Men鈥檚 Team has been chosen as an NCAA Regional Host since 2021, while the Women鈥檚 Team has hosted twice since then. In the past six years, NCWU has hosted five NCAA Regionals, showcasing its commitment to nurturing top-tier tennis talent.鈥
Brice also emphasized the competitive level of the tournament field and the opportunity for the weekend to produce memorable postseason moments.
鈥淲e anticipate an exceptional tennis tournament this weekend featuring some of the nation鈥檚 finest teams,鈥 Brice said. 鈥淭his regional is expected to be highly competitive, and the victorious team will undoubtedly receive a prestigious accolade to enhance its program鈥檚 illustrious history.鈥
鈥淣orth Carolina Wesleyan is proud to welcome NCAA postseason competition to our campus,鈥 said Dr. Evan D. Duff, President of 麻豆原创. 鈥淗osting the NCAA Division III Men鈥檚 Tennis Championship Preliminary Rounds reflects the excellence of our athletic programs and the dedication of our coaches, staff, and student-athletes. We invite the community to join us in celebrating this exciting opportunity and supporting our Battling Bishops.鈥
Fans are encouraged to attend matches and help create an energetic environment as NC Wesleyan takes the national stage in NCAA postseason play.
鈥淎ttending matches, creating an energetic and respectful environment, and helping us showcase the hospitality NC Wesleyan is known for all go a long way,鈥 Morrison added.
Championship Schedule (All Times Eastern)
Friday, May 8
10:00 a.m. 鈥 Stevens vs. Penn State Harrisburg (Match 1)
2:00 p.m. 鈥 NC Wesleyan vs. Albright (Match 2)
Saturday, May 9
10:00 a.m. 鈥 Emory vs. Winner of Match 1 (Match 3)
2:00 p.m. 鈥 Johns Hopkins vs. Winner of Match 2 (Match 4)
Sunday, May 11
12:00 p.m. 鈥 Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4 (Match 5)
Event Details
Event: NCAA Division III Men鈥檚 Tennis Championship Preliminary Rounds (First, Second, Third Rounds)
Location: 麻豆原创 (Rocky Mount, N.C.)
Dates: May 8鈥11, 2026
Teams Competing: NC Wesleyan, Albright, Stevens, Penn State Harrisburg, Emory, Johns Hopkins
Format: Team competition including singles and doubles matches
Other Bishops Competing
In addition to hosting the NCAA Men鈥檚 Tennis preliminary rounds, NC Wesleyan Women鈥檚 Tennis will begin NCAA Tournament play on Thursday, May 7, traveling to Emory University for a first-round matchup against Asbury University at 10:00 a.m. The NC Wesleyan Softball team will also continue postseason competition this weekend, competing in the USA South Conference Championship Series beginning Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Pfeiffer University.
All matches and games will be streamed live through the NC Wesleyan athletics website at ncwsports.com
NC Wesleyan Champions Silver Status at NCICU Ethics Bowl
麻豆原创鈥檚 Ethics Bowl team earned second place out of 17 participating institutions at the , marking the strongest finish in the University’s history.
The competition was held at the North Carolina State Legislative Complex and brought together undergraduate teams from North Carolina鈥檚 independent colleges and universities to engage in thoughtful, moderated discussions on complex ethical issues.
鈥淲e are deeply proud of this team,鈥 said Dr. Joe Lane, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at 麻豆原创. 鈥淭hey demonstrated great devotion, teamwork, and understanding throughout the competition.鈥
NCWU advanced through the regular rounds with an undefeated 4鈥0 record, securing wins against Catawba College, Salem College, Barton College, and Mars Hill University. The team then earned a victory over Wingate University in the semifinal round before falling to Johnson C. Smith University in the final round to claim second place overall. The final decision was closely contested.
鈥淭his was the most fun team I鈥檝e ever been on,鈥 said Niana Gunter, senior and team member. 鈥淚 learned a lot about formulating an argument in conjunction with other people.鈥
Senior team member Shafiq Jair Nuijts reflected on the experience, adding, 鈥淕oing into this bowl, I was nervous considering the tremendous amount of work my teammates and I put into this. Seeing the results of our efforts pay off in this manner was an unforgettable experience.鈥
This year鈥檚 finish represents a milestone for NCWU, surpassing the team鈥檚 previous best performance of third place at the 2020 Ethics Bowl.
The award was presented by Dr. A. Hope Williams, President of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU).
Competition Highlights
Throughout the day, NCWU students addressed a range of contemporary ethical topics, including corporate responsibility, international relations in global sporting events, the ethics of weapons of mass destruction, public education reform, civil-military leadership, and funding public schools during financial crises.
Team Members
Pictured (left to right; students in bold):
- Deon Bailey, Sophomore
- Dr. Jarrod Kelly
- Jolyna Sundbom, Junior
- Dr. Shane Thompson
- Dr. A. Hope Williams, President, NCICU
- Shafiq Nuijts, Senior
- Niana Gunter, Senior
- Dr. Jason Buel
- Maxima Iglesias, Senior
Not pictured: Dunya Salem, Senior, who is a member of the team but was unable to attend the competition.
Participating Institutions
The included teams from:
Barton College, Campbell University, Catawba College, Gardner-Webb University, High Point University, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, Mars Hill University, Methodist University, Montreat College, Pfeiffer University, Queens University, Salem College, University of Mount Olive, William Peace University, Wingate University, and 麻豆原创.
The promotes civil discourse, ethical reasoning, and collaborative problem-solving鈥攕kills central to 麻豆原创鈥檚 commitment to academic excellence and student development.
