Lyndonville, VT - The experienced Vermont State University Lyndon men's tennis team looks to return to post-season play this season. If they achieve that goal, it will be as a member of a new conference. The Hornets, along with five other North Atlantic Conference schools, have joined the Empire 8 Conference as associate members. Lyndon will open the season on Saturday afternoon when they travel to another E8 associate member, Norwich University, for a 1:00 pm match.
The Hornet roster is headed by a pair of returning NAC 1st Team All-Conference selections. Seniors Jeffrey Blais (Newport, VT) and David Gratton (Newport, VT) were both named to the All-Conference team as singles players, and were also named as a doubles team. Blais was 7-5 as a singles player in 2024, including a 6-2 mark in NAC play. Gratton also went 7-5 in singles, 6-2 in conference. The pair was 7-4 as a doubles team, with a 6-2 mark in the NAC.
Three other seniors, Stephen Wutzl (Brookfield, CT), James Salvas (Morrisville, VT), and Gilbert Flores (Winsted, CT), also return. Promising sophomore Wesley McIntyre (Troy, NY) rounds out the roster and is expected to compete for a spot at the top of the lineup.
The Hornets will play in the E8's East Division, along with Norwich, the State University of New York at Delhi, Lesley University, Thomas College, and Vermont State University Johnson. The West division will include Alfred University, Houghton University, Nazateth University, Saint John Fisher University, and the State University of New York at Oswego. Each team will play each of the other division opponents once in conference play. The top three teams in both the East and West divisions will qualify for the Empire 8 playoffs. The conference champion will earn automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
Laura Laramee returns for her 14th season as Lyndon head coach. The Hornets are looking to build on their 2024 campaign, which saw them finish 4-8 overall and 4-4 in NAC play, good for thrid place in the conference standings.
