OVERLAND PARK, KS – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is pleased to announce today that William Woods University will serve as the host institution for the 2024 and 2025 ITA NAIA Men’s and Women’s Team Indoor Championships at the Overland Park Racquet Club in Overland Park, Kansas.
Building on the 2023 ITA NAIA Team Indoor Championships, hosted by Kansas Wesleyan University, this championship was the first of its kind and demonstrated the ITA’s continued commitment to providing national championship opportunities to small college institutions.
“The ITA is thrilled that William Woods University has agreed to host the 2024 and 2025 ITA NAIA Men’s and Women’s Team Indoor Championships alongside the ITA” says Competitive Manager, Lizzie Conti. “This collaboration represents a shared commitment to fostering sportsmanship, camaraderie, and a commitment to raising the student-athlete experience. The ITA NAIA Men’s and Women’s Team Indoor Championships embody the essence of collegiate tennis excellence and we are excited to build on the foundation laid by last year’s inaugural event.”
Named the 2017 USTA “Facility of the Year,” Overland Park Racquet Club offers 11 lighted courts and a spectator capacity between 75-100 with ample space on both overlooking balconies and lower-level spaces.
“This is just another example of the William Woods administration and staff putting our student-athletes first,” stated William Woods Head Coach, Chance Joost. “William Woods is one of the most prominent programs in the country and we’re proud to be able to host one of the biggest tournaments in the country across any division.”
Joost continues, “Since I arrived at William Woods, my goal has been to increase our visibility and brand while also teaming up with the ITA and USTA more frequently. Also, personally, to be able to host this tournament at Overland Park Racquet Club where I trained as a junior player is a big bonus. Thank you to Elliott McDermed and Eric Rand, owners of Overland Park Racquet Club, for being willing to host this tournament. We are going to provide a championship experience with a Champions of Character integrity.”
The 2024 NAIA Team Indoor Championships are set to be held from Feb. 2-4, 2024 with more details around the competing teams and media information to follow in the coming months. This championship marks just one of the 15 national championships in which the ITA offers, including the likes of the ITA Cup, ITA National Fall Championships, and ITA Men’s and Women’s All-American Championships.
“The opportunity to partner with the ITA to put on a first-class championship with high-level student-athlete experience caught our eye quickly and made this an easy decision to pursue,” noted William Woods Director of Athletics Steve Wilson. “William Woods University Tennis is a national brand in small college tennis and a major player on the national scene within the NAIA. To host this event in an unmatched facility like Overland Park Racquet Club is an incredible opportunity and responsibility, one that we do not take lightly. We are excited to put on a great event for the seven other teams on each side of this championship, with an opportunity to connect with alumni and friends in the Kansas City area. This is a terrific announcement for our tennis program, our athletics department, and our institution.”
About the ITA – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body and coaches association of college tennis, both an advocate and an authority for the sport and its members. Comprised of 1,260 colleges and universities, 20,000 student-athletes, 1,700 varsity programs, 3,000 coaches, and 1,350 college tennis officials, the ITA empowers college tennis coaches at all levels to deliver vibrant tennis programs that are vital to their college communities and transformational to their student-athletes. Follow the 2023-24 college tennis season on the ITA website and ITA social channels on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
