Looking Forward...BIG EAST Men's Tennis

The Blue Demons compete in their first BIG EAST Championship next April in Tampa, Fla. The league's conference champion earns the automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

BIG EAST Tennis

CHICAGO - This is the 11th in a series that takes an inside look at the future of DePaul athletics in the BIG EAST Conference. The BIG EAST, headquartered in Providence, R.I., celebrated its 25th anniversary during the 2003-04 season and moved forward in 2004-05 with the addition of five new members poised to join the league this summer.

On July 1, DePaul University joins the University of Cincinnati, University of Louisville, Marquette University and the University of South Florida as new members of the BIG EAST Conference. The league membership in 2005-06 includes the five new members joining the University of Connecticut, Georgetown University, University of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh, Providence College, Rutgers University, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Syracuse University, Villanova University and the University of West Virginia.

A Preview of BIG EAST Men’s Tennis
The BIG EAST is entering its 11th year of team championships in 2005. Prior to the change, the event was a flighted singles championship, with the women competing in the fall and the men holding their matches in the spring. Boston College leads the league in overall team titles (16) and in men’s crowns with 10.

The 2005 Championships were a three-day event scheduled for April 21-23. Matches took place at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. USF will enter the league beginning with the 2005-06 season. Six men’s and six women’s squads competed in the team-championship format. The team winners each receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.

The Notre Dame men’s tennis team defeated Rutgers, 4-0, to claim the 2005 BIG EAST Tennis Championship title and earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. The Irish also won the title in 2004, giving them consecutive championships for the first time since entering the league in 1995-96. The Scarlet Knights, the No. 3 seed, made their first appearance in a championship final.

In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Notre Dame lost to future BIG EAST member Louisville, 4-1, in the first round.

Last Five BIG EAST Men's Tennis Champions

2005	Notre Dame
2004	Notre Dame
2003	Miami
2002	Notre Dame
2001	Miami

2005 BIG EAST Championship Results

1. Notre Dame
2. Rutgers
3. St. John's
4. Boston College

Championship Match
Notre Dame 4, Rutgers 0

Consolation Match
St. John's 4, Boston College 3