Reactions to NCAA’s no-ad scoring
August 13, 2015
SKILLMAN, NJ – Starting in 2016, the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s tennis championships will utilize the no-ad scoring format, as announced on Thursday by the NCAA Division I Competition Oversight Committee.
Following more than three years of discussion, which included members of the ITA, USTA and the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Tennis Committee, the NCAA Oversight Committee reached its decision on Wednesday.
“Making an informed decision for a sport rich in tradition can be challenging given the strength and diversity of ideas amongst our large body of talented and committed coaches,” said ITA CEO Timothy Russell. “I am very proud of the ITA as an innovative leader in the world of intercollegiate athletics that we have been able to come together, in partnership with our allied partners at the NCAA and USTA, to take a wonderfully important first step in moving our sport forward with one voice.”
To read the full NCAA release on its decision to adopt the no-ad scoring format for Division I, visit ncaa.com/news/tennis-men/article/2015-08-13/division-i-tennis-championships-move-no-ad-scoring.
“The decision of the NCAA to adopt the ITA format for the NCAA Division I Tennis Championships helps create a bright future for the sport of tennis, ensuring it will be as vibrant as possible in the years ahead,” said David A. Benjamin, former ITA Executive Director for 37 years and presently the Chairman of the ITA Board of Directors. “The goal of everyone involved these past several years in the extensive study, experimentation and decision-making process regarding dual match format – ITA Operating Committee and ITA coaches, NCAA Tennis Committee and staff and the USTA Advisory Group of Athletic Directors – has been to make college tennis even more relevant and more exciting, in an ever-changing, time-challenged world.”
Peter Smith, head men’s tennis coach at USC the past 13 seasons, says the inclusion of no-ad scoring is good for the sport of college tennis.
“I am looking forward to playing this exciting format in the upcoming season,” said Smith, whose USC teams have won five of the past seven NCAA men’s tennis national championships. “Our fans will enjoy the high pressure, fast paced brand of tennis and it will help us continue to develop top players.”
Oklahoma women’s tennis coach Dave Mullins, a member of the ITA Division I Operating Committee, is excited about the Oversight Committee’s decision.
“I believe this is an extremely positive move for college tennis on so many different levels,” Mullins said. “Our players, coaches, and fans adapted quickly to this format last spring, and realistically we cannot imagine playing the old format any longer. We can now fit a lot of great tennis and excitement into a three hour time frame while improving the welfare and overall experience of our student-athletes.”