CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference has announced today the addition of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) as an affiliate member in men's tennis, starting in the 2023-24 season. The Flames will be one of six MAC programs competing in the sport.
"I am pleased to welcome UIC as an affiliate member in men's tennis," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher. "The Flames will enjoy the strong competition in the Mid-American Conference and I expect their addition will foster rivalries that will only increase interest and attention for our men's tennis programs."
The Flames come to the MAC following one season as an affiliate member in the Southland Conference. Men's tennis will be the second UIC-sponsored sport to compete as affiliate members in the MAC, with men's swimming & diving having just completed its first season in the conference this year. The MAC will also have three members competing as MVC affiliate members in men's soccer beginning this fall.
"We are excited for our men's tennis student-athletes to compete in the MAC next year," said Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz. "It's a highly competitive environment in the right geographic footprint for our program. We thank the league and its members for their partnership and look forward to the upcoming season."
Under first year head coach Jovan Parlic, the men's tennis program had one of its best seasons in recent history, earning the No. 2 seed in the Southland Conference after going 3-2 in conference play, including defeating eventual conference champion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Senior
Aleksa Bucan was named Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Conference. Over the past ten years, the Flames have totaled eight all-conference selections, including three First Team All-League selections.
Off the court, men's tennis is annually among the Flames' most outstanding academic achievers. After posting a 3.58 team GPA for the 2022 calendar year, the program received the Chancellor's Cup, given to the men's and women's programs with the highest team GPAs at UIC. The program also posted a perfect single season APR score of 1,000, as announced in early May by the NCAA.
"We're eager for the chance to compete at a high level and join the Mid-American Conference," said men's tennis head coach Jovan Parlic. "Our hard work has prepared us to showcase our skills and make a meaningful impact in this great conference. Thank you to Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz and the MAC for this opportunity. We look forward to the upcoming season and getting started."
The Mid-American Conference has sponsored men's tennis since 1947. The five institutions competing alongside UIC in 2023-24 include Western Michigan, Toledo, Buffalo, Ball State, and Northern Illinois. Four of the other five programs in the MAC are less than a four-hour drive from Chicago and the Flames join Northern Illinois as the second program from the Prairie State to compete in men's tennis in the MAC.
The 2023 Mid-American Conference Championship was held April 22-23 at the West Hills Athletic Club in Kalamazoo, Mich. Toledo defeated Western Michigan to win the league title for the first time since 1973. The winner of the MAC Championship will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament each year.
