New Era Begins As LCU Tennis Unveils Fall Slate

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LUBBOCK, Texas (September 9, 2026) – Lubbock Christian University men’s and women’s tennis will get its first competitive look under new Director of Tennis Mitch Hallum this fall, as the Chaparrals and Lady Chaparrals are scheduled to compete in three tournament events during the fall portion of the 2026-27 season.
 
Hallum takes over both programs with coaching experience that includes serving as the men’s tennis head coach at Oral Roberts during the 2023-24 season. His first opportunity to evaluate the Chaparrals and Lady Chaparrals in competition will come Sept. 11-12 at the Cameron University Invite at the Streich-Henry Tennis Complex in Lawton, Oklahoma.

LCU will return to action Sept. 24-26 at the Tyler Invite in Tyler, Texas. The event is co-hosted by UT Tyler and Tyler Junior College.

 

The fall slate concludes Oct. 22-25 with the ITA South Central Regional at the Summers Tennis Center in Tyler. The regional carries added significance this season following a major restructuring of the Division II individual postseason by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

 

Beginning this fall, the Division II portion of the traditional ITA Cup has been separated into a standalone national event, the inaugural ITA Division II Singles & Doubles Championships. Finalists in singles and doubles competition at the ITA South Central Regional will earn automatic berths to the new national championship, scheduled for Nov. 4-8 at the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

 

The ITA championship provides Division II student-athletes an opportunity to compete for individual national titles in the fall. The NCAA does not sponsor separate Division II singles or doubles national championships. NCAA Division II men’s and women’s tennis championships are conducted in the spring through team dual-match competition, making the ITA pathway the primary route to individual national championships for Division II players.

 

Hallum inherits a men’s program coming off one of the finest seasons in LCU history. The Chaparrals finished 23-6 in 2025-26 and ended the season ranked No. 6 nationally after advancing to the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals. LCU went a perfect 8-0 in Lone Star Conference play and posted a 13-4 record against nationally ranked opponents. All six of the Chaparrals’ losses came against elite competition, with two against NCAA Division I opponents and four against nationally ranked Division II programs. Three of those Division II opponents were ranked inside the national top 10.

 

The Lady Chaparrals also continued their ascent nationally last season, earning a second consecutive NCAA Division II postseason appearance. LCU finished 15-7 and closed the year ranked No. 48 nationally. Of the Lady Chaps’ seven losses, two came against NCAA Division I competition and four were against nationally ranked Division II opponents.

 

The three fall tournaments will consist of individual singles and doubles competition and will not include dual matches. LCU’s spring schedule, which will feature the team dual-match portion of the 2026-27 season, will be announced at a later date.