Baltimore, MD - The North Carolina Wesleyan men's tennis team is officially NCAA-bound. The Battling Bishops earned an automatic berth to the 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship and will open tournament play in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, May 9.
The full bracket was revealed Monday afternoon during the NCAA.com selection show. Forty-four teams comprise this year's national field, with single-elimination play beginning May 8-9 and continuing through the championship match on May 22. The team and individual championship rounds will be held at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont, California.
North Carolina Wesleyan (12-12) will take on York College (15-2) in the first round of the Johns Hopkins Regional hosted at the JHU Tennis Courts. The winner will advance to face regional host and 14th-ranked Johns Hopkins (14-7) in Saturday's second round. Also competing at the site are Allegheny, Nichols, and Middlebury, with the regional champion advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals.
The Bishops punched its ticket to the postseason by capturing their 16th consecutive USA South Athletic Conference Tournament title, defeating second-seeded Methodist at the Slick Family Foundation Tennis Center.
"This group has battled all year long, and I couldn't be prouder of the way they came together and peaked at the right time," said head coach Albie Brice. "Winning sixteen in a row is a true testament to the culture and tradition of excellence that's been built here over the years. Our guys embraced the challenge and earned this one."
Wesleyan secured the doubles point behind a dominant 6-0 win from Francesco Raparo and Bohdan Zhylchuk at No. 3 and a 6-2 win from Luca Knese and Albert Sitwell at No. 1. In singles play, Shori Nishizoe (No. 6), Zhylchuk (No. 3), and Logan Stoltz (No. 5) each delivered straight-set victories to clinch the championship.
Zhylchuk was named Tournament MVP, while Knese, Sitwell, and Nishizoe joined him on the USA South All-Tournament Team.
With its NCAA appearance now set, Wesleyan looks to add to its storied postseason legacy when it begins national tournament play Friday in Baltimore.
The NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Individual Championship selections will be announced Wednesday, May 7, on NCAA.com. Singles and doubles competition begins May 23, with champions crowned May 26.
