PSAC Upholds Tennis Protest
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced today that it will uphold a protest filed by West Chester University regarding the results of a women’s tennis match played on March 31 between West Chester and Kutztown. Specifically, West Chester protested the lineup employed by Kutztown in the match, which according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) must be played in the order of the ability of team members. Kutztown won the match 5-4.
In the March 31 match, Kutztown switched the #4 and #5 players in its singles lineup, based in part on a “challenge match” played earlier in the week by the two players. ITA rules prohibit the change of lineups based on “challenge matches” after the sixth dual match played on the schedule following January 1. The “challenge match” occurred after the eighth match of the season and therefore was not permissible for a lineup adjustment according to ITA rules.
Therefore, the PSAC will amend the conference results and standings to reflect the March 31 match as a 5-4 West Chester victory rather than a 5-4 Kutztown victory. Both institutions will make the necessary adjustments to their results and the NCAA will be notified to adjust match results for post-season consideration.