The fourth-seeded Hillsdale College men's tennis team will advance to its first NCAA Division II Midwest Regional semifinal in program history after opening-round opponent Illinois-Springfield announced its withdrawal from competition on Friday.
A press release announcing UIS' withdrawal from the regional read: "The University of Illinois Springfield athletics department announced today that the Prairie Stars will be withdrawing from the NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Midwest Regionals due to COVID protocols. The men's tennis team had its best NCAA season in 2020-21, and earned the program's first national postseason bid earlier this week. UIS was scheduled to face Hillsdale in a first-round contest on Saturday afternoon."
Hillsdale was scheduled to play the Prairie Stars at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in an opening-round match. The Chargers now will be facing top-seeded Indianapolis in the Midwest Regional Semis on Sunday at noon at the Midland Community Tennis Center. The winner will advance to the Midwest Regional Championship match against either second-seeded Southwest Baptist or third-seeded Ferris St. on Monday at 11 a.m., with the winner advancing to the Division II Championships held from May 18-20 in Surprise, Arizona.