The stage is set for the 2026 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tennis Championships, as six
men’s and six women’s programs converge here in Owensboro starting this Thursday through Saturday at the William H “Bill” Thompson Outdoor Courts in the Owensboro Tennis Complex.
With a blend of established contenders and rising programs, both brackets promise competitive depth from top to bottom. On the women’s side, the University of Findlay enters as the No. 1 seed after a dominant regular season, compiling an impressive 17-1 overall record and perfect conference mark. Northwood University follows as the No. 2 seed (14-4), continuing its steady climb among the conference’s elite. Tiffin University slots in at No. 3 (11-9), while Hillsdale College (12-8) claims the No. 4 seed after a strong overall campaign.
Walsh University (10-10) enters as the No. 5 seed, with Ashland University rounding out the field at No. 6. The Findlay Oilers’ consistency has made them the favorite, but several teams—particularly Northwood and Tiffin—have shown the depth to contend for the title.
The men’s tournament features a strong top tier led by Tiffin University, which earned the No. 1 seed after an unbeaten conference season and a stellar 20–5 overall record. Northwood University (14–2) secured the No. 2 seed, followed by the University of Findlay (10–6) at No. 3. Walsh University (9–10) enters as the No. 4 seed, with Hillsdale College (9–9) at No. 5 and Cedarville University (9–15) rounding out the bracket as the No. 6 seed.
Tiffin’s dominance throughout the regular season positions the Dragons as the team to beat, though Northwood and Findlay remain close challengers capable of making a push. Looking back at recent history, Tiffin University captured both the 2025 GMAC Men’s Tennis regular season title and tournament championship, continuing its run as the conference’s premier program on the men’s side. On the women’s side, the University of Findlay claimed the 2025 regular season championship and Tiffin claimed the postseason tournament title. The 2025 editions of the championships were also held here in Owensboro.
With both brackets featuring top seeds that have already proven themselves over the course of the season, the question becomes whether the favorites will continue their dominance—or if one of the lower seeds can break through and capture a GMAC title.
Teams will begin appearing in Owensboro on Wednesday, April 22 for practice sessions. Action in the Men’s Championship kicks off at 9 AM on April 23 with Women’s play to follow at 1 PM. The top 2 seeds on each bracket will receive a first round bye and begin play on Friday. Conference champions will be crowned here in Owensboro on Saturday, April 25.
