LUBBOCK, Texas (January 14, 2026) – Lubbock Christian University men's and women's tennis made program history Wednesday, as both teams were nationally ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll for the first time in their respective histories.
The LCU men debuted at No. 5 in the national preseason rankings, marking the first preseason national ranking for the program after closing the 2025 season ranked No. 6 in the final ITA poll. The women's team also cracked the preseason rankings for the first time, entering at No. 25 after finishing last season ranked No. 24 nationally.
The ITA Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by the ITA National Ranking Committee, which consists of the eight regional chairs and a national chair, each submitting an individual, secret ballot.
The men's preseason ranking reflects sustained national momentum following a breakthrough 2025 campaign in which the Chaps advanced to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals for the first time in school history. LCU finished among the nation's elite last spring and now opens 2026 positioned inside the national top five alongside traditional Division II powers Barry, Valdosta State, Flagler and West Florida.
On the women's side, the Lady Chaps' preseason debut in the Top 25 underscores a program on the rise after earning their first NCAA postseason appearance last season. LCU joins a national field that includes perennial contenders such as Barry, Nova Southeastern and North Georgia, while also sitting among Lone Star Conference peers including Midwestern State and UT Tyler.
The preseason team rankings follow strong individual recognition for both programs earlier this fall, when multiple LCU players earned ITA national and regional singles and doubles rankings. The men placed five players among the South Central Region's top 13 in singles—more than any other program in the region—while the women landed ranked representation in both singles and doubles.
The men's roster enters the spring with added depth, highlighted by the addition of
Hayden Loffler, a junior transfer from Barton Community College and a native of Johannesburg, South Africa. Loffler was ranked No. 3 nationally in doubles at the junior college level and helped Barton finish as the NJCAA national runner-up. LCU also welcomed freshman
Andrea Rossi Principe of Lanciano, Italy, who brings extensive international experience from ITF Futures events and training stints with the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation at the Olympic Training Center in Tirrenia, Italy. Rossi Principe joins fellow Italian teammates
Mattia Ghedin and
Marco Seccia on the Chaps' roster.
Final spring schedules for both programs are nearing completion. The men are slated to open the season with an exhibition dual match Friday at Texas Tech against Division I Southern Miss at 1 p.m., while the women will open with an exhibition Friday at Texas A&M in College Station at 3:30 p.m.
