ROCKY MOUNT, NC - The NC Wesleyan men's and women's tennis teams, coached by Albie Brice and assistant Matt Rowe, recently both won the 2021 USA South Championships with the men earning their 12th straight title and the women earning their 3rd straight championship .
As a reward for their stellar seasons, the NCAA allowed NC Wesleyan to host the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounds of the 2021 NCAA DIII men's and women's national championships in the Slick Family Tennis Center at the Vernon T. Bradley Jr. Tennis Complex and in the newly minted Indoor Sports and Education Facility (ISEF) on campus.
In May, the NCAA tournament regionals came to NC Wesleyan for the first time in college history, due in large part to the addition of the ISEF to the tennis complex. The new facility features four indoor tennis courts in addition to a bevy of additional features including squash courts, sports performance facilities, exercise science classrooms and space for expansion. The entire facility now features the availability of 16 total courts, which was a key component of landing the tournament.
"It was really special to see the community's investment into the college paying off in a big way just as the facility opens," NC Wesleyan athletic director Aaron Denton shared back in May. "Anonymous donors, along with contributions and partnerships with Nash County Travel and Tourism, provided an opportunity for the college to build this facility that will impact many far beyond the serpentine walls of our campus. It was a true pleasure to see coach Albie Brice's efforts putting this facility together over the last few years pay off with our teams hosting."
MEN
The 12-time defending USA South Tournament Champion NC Wesleyan College Men's Tennis team (21-3) advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 12th consecutive season, and finished the year ranking #9 nationally by the ITA for their highest ranking in the history of the program. They also finished #3 in the Atlantic South Region and lost to only one Div. III foe all season when they fell 5-3 to 4th ranked Johns Hopkins in Sweet 16 action. JHU went on to make the final four as well. It was the Bishops' third consecutive season reaching the NCAA Sweet Sixteen while the 2019 and 2021 teams combined to go 42-6 over the two-year stretch.
The Bishop men have always shown a great foundation of depth consistency as they played with a 22-man roster all season with 20 different players contributing in at least one match during the season. The men are undefeated in conference play over the past 12 seasons while winning 12 straight regular season and tournament championships. Wesleyan also had two players named ITA National Players of the week in juniors Juan Vallejo and Jhonny Acosta.
Individually, senior Roberto Puig (6-5), who finished the season ranked #19 nationally and 6th regionally as the #1 player on the team, earned a spot in the NCAA Individual Singles Tournament while also being named first team all-conference. Puig also teamed with freshman John Falke in doubles (8-4) and finished the season ranking 6th in the region. Falke also earned a spot on the All-Conference first team and all-tournament team as he went 13-2 on the year.
Vallejo (9-5) then finished #42 nationally and 12th in the region playing as the #2 player on the team. He was also named to the all-conference first team and all-tournament team. He then teamed with Acosta in doubles (14-2) to qualify for the NCAA tournament while ranking 4th in the region and 14th nationally.
Acosta (12-3) then finished 15th in the region individually while being named ITA National Player of the week once.
Academically, 11 Bishops on the roster were selected to the USA South Academic All-Conference team for having a GPA of 3.3 or higher in each semester. The 2020-21 team also had a career average GPA of 3.54 while the average term was 3.6. They also had 10 men receive the President's Honor Award and six more named to the President's Honor list.
The men are expected to return around 20 from last year's team and possibly Puig as well with the Covid waiver while they are bringing in about 13 recruits also.