The Illinois Springfield Athletic Department, the Springfield Park District, and Visit Springfield announced that Springfield will host the 2025 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Men's and Women's Tennis Championships. The tournament, set for May 2-4 at the recently renovated Velasco Tennis Center in Washington Park, will bring top collegiate tennis talent and fans from across the GLVC to Springfield.
 

Andrew Coon, Springfield Park District tennis manager and recreation assistant, expressed his excitement: "The Springfield Park District is proud to announce that the Velasco Tennis Center at Washington Park will host the 2025 Great Lakes Valley Conference Men's and Women's Tennis Championships! This prestigious event celebrates the spirit of collegiate tennis, bringing together talented athletes from across the conference. The Velasco Tennis Center, long affiliated with UIS and its tennis programs, has recently undergone exciting renovations to enhance both the player and spectator experience. We are thrilled to welcome the GLVC athletes and fans to our beautifully upgraded facility and look forward to fostering the future of UIS Tennis and hosting more conference championships to come."
 

Springfield's hosting of the GLVC Tennis Championships reflects its commitment to collegiate athletics and economic growth. Terry Truman of Visit Springfield highlighted the local impact, saying, "Springfield is very excited to once again play host to a GLVC Championship! Tennis joins cross-country and volleyball as championships hosted here in the last year. Hosting these events drives economic impact in our community through hotel stays, dining at restaurants, shopping, and more. This event could not be done without the outstanding partnership with UIS and the Springfield Park District. A special thanks goes out to UIS Athletic Director Mike Hermann and Springfield Park District Tennis Manager and Recreation Assistant Andrew Coon for making the event a reality."
 

Mike Hermann, director of athletics at UIS, emphasized UIS's dedication to partnering with the local community: "We are excited to partner with Washington Park and Visit Springfield on this event. We want to bring championship events to Springfield whenever possible and are excited that three GLVC championship events will be in our community this athletic year. We enjoy showcasing our community and its hospitality, plus it contributes to the Springfield economy as the teams, fans, and families stay in our terrific hotels and enjoy our amazing restaurants. Plus, it gives our student-athletes a sense of pride as we host these events in our hometown."
 

Ross Graham, head coach of UIS tennis, shared his enthusiasm: "UIS is extremely excited for the opportunity to host the GLVC Men's and Women's Tennis Championships this spring at Washington Park! I have been in Springfield for over 30 years, and this is the first time we have hosted an NCAA conference tennis tournament. We couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity, and we look forward to tremendous community support the first weekend in May for such a special event."
 

The 2025 GLVC Tennis Championships will feature a tournament format with opening matches on Friday, followed by semifinals on Saturday and the championship match on Sunday. The University of Indianapolis is defending both the men's and women's titles, adding to the competitive anticipation for the upcoming championship. 
 

• Dates: May 2-4, 2025

• Host: Illinois Springfield

GLVC Championships Home Page