UNK Men Picked Fourth in the North

1/22/2026 11:28:00 AM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its preseason rankings for the 2026 MIAA/GAC men's tennis season. The Washburn Ichabods and Harding Bison were tabbed the division favorites by MIAA and Great American Conference (GAC) head coaches.

The MIAA/GAC men's tennis season is split between two divisions – North and South. The institutions competing in the North Division include Augustana, Emporia State, Nebraska Kearney, Newman, Northwest Missouri and Washburn. The institutions that represent the South Division are Arkansas-Fort Smith, Harding, Ouachita, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Southern Arkansas, and new this season, Northeastern State.

Northeastern State reinstated its men's tennis program after a 24-year absence. The university previously sponsored men's tennis from the 1960s through the 1999-2000 season. The program was a dominant force in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference (OIC) throughout the 1980s and 1990s, winning multiple conference titles. The team made its debut as an NCAA member in 1999, hosting the Midwest Regional and earning a No. 21 national ranking in its inaugural run.

Harding, Ouachita (Ark.) Baptist, Southern Arkansas and Washburn each advanced to the 2025 NCAA postseason. Washburn, the defending MIAA/GAC champion, took its 2025 campaign all the way to the NCAA Division II National Championship match, where the Ichabods suffered a 4-2 loss to Valdosta (Ga.) State for the national title.

UNK went 11-14 (2-2 MIAA) last season and was the third seed (North Side) in the league tournament. Head coach Scott Shafer welcomes back five including All-MIAA doubles selection Ivan Melnik (Germany) and senior Alex Jaulin (Australia). The Lopers host Midland an exhibition match Saturday at 4 p.m. with the indoor season set to begin Jan. 30 at Augustana.

The 2026 NCAA Division II spring men's tennis season officially begins on January 31, with MIAA/GAC contests scheduled to begin in mid-February. The 2026 MIAA/GAC Men's Tennis Championship is set for April 29 - May 1 at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo.

To view the complete schedule of all 12 MIAA/GAC men's tennis teams, click here.

2026 MIAA/GAC MEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON COACHES POLL
NORTH DIVISION
1. Washburn [9] – 50 points
2. Emporia State – 40 points
3. Northwest Missouri [1] – 35 points
4. Nebraska Kearney – 26 points
5. Augustana – 19 points
6. Newman – 10 points

SOUTH DIVISION
1. Harding [9] – 50 points
2. Ouachita Baptist, Ark. [1] – 45 points
3. Southern Arkansas – 31 points
4. Northeastern State – 24 points
T5. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 15 points
T5. Southeastern Oklahoma State – 15 points
[#] - First Place Votes

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