Nathan Gangelhoff unveils 2025-26 schedule for Carson-Newman Tennis
Head coach Nathan Gangelhoff released the 2025-26 tennis schedule, showcasing six events in the fall before the spring begins in February 2026.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's head tennis coach, Nathan Gangelhoff, released the 2025-26 schedule Monday morning.
The Eagles will have six events in the fall, followed by three months off during the winter, with the spring slate set to begin at the start of February.
"I'm excited to see our new players and our returning players get right back into a competitive nature," Gangelhoff said. "It's good that we don't have to wait all the way till February to witness that."
It begins on Sept. 4 at home with the Mossy Creek Dual, then heads on the road for the following three duals. The King Hidden Dual at King University takes place on Sept. 12-13, followed by the LMU Invitational on Sept. 20-21 at Lincoln Memorial, before traveling to Sumter, South Carolina, for the ITA Regional from Sept. 24-28.
The fall schedule concludes with consecutive events in Jefferson City, the Eagle Invitational, from Oct. 15 to 18, and wraps up with the Eagle Open on Nov. 7.
"We always try to focus on just getting better every day, but specifically for the fall, we want to really make sure that we're just in great physical shape," Gangelhoff said. "With the fall season, you use it for match prep, but also that we can go into any match in the spring knowing we can be out there for four or five hours and we'll be physically fine."
Carson-Newman returns to the court on Feb. 7 when they take on Cumberlands (KY) for the first time since 2019, and on Feb. 13, it's the home opener against NAIA opponent Montreat.
The non-conference run continues on the road against Young Harris on Feb. 15. Then, the next three are at home for the Eagles against King (TN), NAIA Middle Georgia and Lee on Feb. 20, 21 and 24.
Before a three-match road trip starting with North Georgia on Feb. 26. C-N opens Southern Atlantic Conference play against Lenoir-Rhyne, Feb. 28, followed by the reigning SAC Champion, Catawba, on Mar. 4. Conference play continues at home against UVA Wise on Mar. 11.
Gangelhoff mixes in a pair of non-conference events in the middle of March against JUCO Hocking College for the men's on Mar. 12 and Louisiana State University of Alexandria on Mar. 13 for the women's. Then both will take on Nebraska-Kearney on Mar. 16, it will be the first-ever meeting against the Lopers.
SAC play returns with three consecutive road matches starting with rival Tusculum on Mar. 18. Next up is Coker and Emory & Henry on Mar. 21 and 24, respectively.
The Eagles finish the season with six of the final seven at home in Mossy Creek. They face Anderson on Mar. 26 and then Wingate on Mar. 28, before their final two non-conference opponents.
On Mar. 30, Carson-Newman welcomes Division I Austin Peay to the Charles A. "Buddy" Catlett Tennis Complex, the schools last faced off in 2021. Then on Apr. 4, it's Senior Day against Johnson University from the NAIA.
The final stretch features meetings with Mars Hill on the road on Apr. 7, then Lincoln Memorial on Apr. 9, before wrapping up the regular season against Newberry on Apr. 11.
The SAC Championships are slated for Apr. 16-18 in Sumter, South Carolina, at the Palmetto Tennis Center. The NCAA Division II Tennis Championships are set for May 19-24 in Surprise, Arizona.
Throughout the season, the second-year head coach will continue to focus on establishing his culture within Carson-Newman tennis, pushing beyond just wins and losses.
"It's a family environment, and we want our players to feel like that too," Gangelhoff said. "Some are from super close by, some are from around the world, but no matter where you're from, we want you to feel like you belong here, that you feel like you're at home here. That's been my message since I took over, and it remains the same today."
