Welcome to St. Andrews Presbyterian College

November 29, 2007

LAURINBURG, N.C.—St. Andrews Presbyterian College will discontinue men’s and women’s tennis following the 2007-08 athletics season, announced Dr. Brian Mand, Director of Athletics.

“We will discontinue the tennis programs at the conclusion of the spring season partially due to a lack of on-campus facilities,” said Mand. “This will allow us to concentrate our resources on the other 18 intercollegiate athletics programs and our growing number of student-athletes.” St. Andrews athletics has grown tremendously both in terms of number of sports and overall number of athletes. Over the past five years, the department has added seven new sports women’s lacrosse, women’s golf, wrestling, men’s and women’s track & field, and men’s and women’s swimming. This growth has brought the total number of student-athletes participating in athletics at St. Andrews to almost 300.

The continual reevaluation of the program was heightened after the head tennis coach position became vacant this past summer, and the search for the appropriate candidate to lead both programs was unsuccessful. The Knights tennis teams will play out their upcoming 2008 Conference Carolinas schedule. Elizabeth Hernandez, Interim Head Tennis Coach, will continue to direct the team. “The players on both the men’s and women’s teams have made a potentially difficult role for me an enjoyable experience. I have much respect for the members of our tennis teams and look forward to seeing their continued accomplishments in the workforce and in the classroom,” said Hernandez.

The decision to discontinue the tennis programs will not affect the department’s coaching staff and only a limited number of student-athletes. All members of both squads have been notified of the college’s decision. Hernandez will continue to work in her full-time role as Associate Athletics Director and Director of NCAA compliance. Currently, there are 14 players in the tennis program, with four being seniors. In addition, four tennis players are dual sport athletes competing on other Knights teams. Of the remaining six underclassmen, three receive tennis scholarships and will have the option to stay at SAPC and continue to receive scholarship aid until the completion of their eligibility or be released to transfer to another institution to continue playing tennis.

Since joining the NCAA D-II ranks, the St. Andrews tennis teams have practiced and played all home matches at the Scotland Country Tennis Complex – located about two miles from campus – that is shared with the Laurinburg community and Scotland High School.

Paul Baldasare, President of the College said, “We will continue to hold a keen interest in bringing tennis back to our campus. As our resources allow and as our donors respond, we are hopeful that this sport will return after we are able to build up-to-date tennis facilities.”

St. Andrews Presbyterian College is a four-year liberal arts and sciences college situated on 600 acres around a 70-acre lake in the Sandhills region of North Carolina. Long known for its innovation and academic excellence, the college boasts an unparalleled interdisciplinary curriculum, a study abroad program on three continents, a multidisciplinary science lab the size of an indoor arena, the first undergraduate college press in the country, the first four-year degree in therapeutic horsemanship and equine business management, and an award winning bagpipe band. The 786 students enrolled at St. Andrews come from 42 states and eleven countries. Further information may be obtained by visiting the College's website www.sapc.edu or calling admissions at 800-763-0198 or sending an e-mail to admissions@sapc.edu.