WTEN: Cowgirls Begin Play At UTR Sports NIT Championship Tuesday

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LAKE CHARLES–  McNeese women’s tennis, the 2026 Southland Conference regular season champions will make their second postseason appearance in program history on Tuesday, May 5 in the UTR Sports Women’s Tennis NIT Championship in Rome, Georgia, at the Rome Tennis Center.  The tournament runs through May 7. Live streaming will be available on PlaySight, and live scoring will be available via IOnCourt.
 
The championship is comprised of eight teams, playing in the single elimination bracket.  McNeese (22-2) is the No. 6 seed and will face No. 3 seed Arkansas State (13-9) at 1:30 p.m. (CT).
 
McNeese enters the tournament having won 17 of its last 18 matches while Arkansas State ended the regular season winning three of its last four including a 4-1 loss to Old Dominion at the Sun Belt Conference Championship.
 
Past Women’s Champions
2025: Washington State def. UNC Charlotte
2024: Tulsa def. Colorado
2023: TCU def. Stetson
 
TOURNAMENT SEEDS
No. 1 Kansas State (Big 12)
No. 2 North Texas (American Athletic)
No. 3 Arkansas State (Sun Belt)
No. 4 North Alabama (Atlantic Sun)
No. 5 Army (Patriot League)
No. 6 McNeese (Southland)
No. 7 College of Charleston (Coastal Athletic Association)
No. 8 Northern Illinois (Mid-American)
 
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (All Times Eastern)
 



Date
Time
Match
Court
Matches




Tue, May 5
9:00 AM
Women’s Quarterfinal
Ct. 11–16
1st seed vs. 8th seed | Match 1


Tue, May 5
NB 11:30 AM
Women’s Quarterfinal
Ct. 11–16
4th seed vs. 5th seed | Match 4


Tue, May 5
NB 2:30 PM
Women’s Quarterfinal
Ct. 11–16
Arkansas State vs. McNeese | Match 3


Tue, May 5
NB 4:30 PM
Women’s Quarterfinal
Ct. 11–16
2nd seed vs. 7th seed | Match 2


Wed, May 6
9:00 AM
Women’s Semifinal
Ct. 11–16
Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 4 | Semifinal 1


Wed, May 6
NB 11:30 AM
Women’s Semifinal
Ct. 11–16
Winner Match 2 vs Winner Match 3 | Semifinal 2


Wed, May 6
NB 2:30 PM
Men’s Quarterfinal
Ct. 11–16
4th seed vs. 5th seed | Match 1


Thu, May 7
9:00 AM
Women’s Final
Ct. 11–16
Winner Semifinal 1 vs Winner Semifinal 2


Thu, May 7
NB 11:30 AM
Men’s Semifinal
Ct. 11–16
2nd seed vs. 3rd seed | Semifinal 2


Thu, May 7
NB 2:30 PM
Men’s Semifinal
Ct. 11–16
1st seed vs. Winner of Match 1 | Semifinal 1


Fri, May 8
9:00 AM
Men’s Final
Ct. 11–16
Winner Semifinal 1 vs Winner Semifinal 2