TEMPE, Ariz. (June 13, 2025) – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced the brackets for the 2026 ITA Kickoff Weekend on Thursday night, as the No. 63 ranked North Alabama men's tennis team was selected to compete among the top programs in the nation.
 
The ITA Kickoff Weekend is set for January 23-24, 2026 and will be held at 14 different host sites.
 
In a draft, the Lions were selected as the fourth seed in the Columbus, Ohio bracket. UNA will play No. 6 Ohio State and will be joined on the other side of the bracket by No. 53 Purdue and No. 56 Old Dominion.
 
"We are very excited to participate in the kickoff weekend," said UNA tennis coach Aitor Reparaz. "We have lots of returners that played at a high level last year that are looking forward to these high level matches. It will be a good way to get the season started and keep growing as a program."
 
The UNA men's tennis team finished with a 20-4 overall record and went 10-0 against Atlantic Sun Conference opponents in both the regular season and postseason tournament to win both ASUN Championships. UNA made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament last year, falling to No. 22 Michigan State.
 
A total of 56 programs are drafted for both the men's and women's brackets. The UNA women's tennis team, currently ranked No. 87, is listed as one of eight alternates for the ITA Kickoff Weekend — just missing out on a draft spot.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.