KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the first time in program history, the Goshen women's tennis team has qualified for the 45th Annual UTR Sports NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship. The Maple Leafs earned an at-large spot and will be the #14 seed, facing a familiar opponent in #19 Holy Cross.

The Saints earned an automatic spot as the tournament champion out of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Goshen lost to Marian in the Crossroads League Championship but earned the eighth of 11 at-large spots available. Of the 24 teams in the field, the Leafs join Louisiana Christian and Stanton (Calif.) as the teams that are attending the national championship for the first time in their program's history. At-large teams were determined by the NAIA Tennis National Selection Committee (NSC). The NSC consists of coaches and administrators from around the country. 

The championship will take place at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama, from May 12-16. Goshen is 15-7 and went 8-1 in the regular season in the Crossroads League. The Maple Leafs and Saints played each other just last month on Saturday, March 7, at the South Bend Racquet Club, with Holy Cross winning 4-3. The Saints were ranked #11 in the NAIA coaches poll at the time. Goshen won the doubles point and had singles wins from Maria Clara Fonte and Sara Nino. Since their loss to Holy Cross, Goshen is 12-2.