Northwest Missouri State Athletics

How do you follow up a school record 21 victories? Well, for the 1996 men’s tennis team it was pretty simple – you do it all again. 
 
The back-to-back seasons would mark the most wins in a 2-year period in the 63 year history of the program. A dominant team in the MIAA, they posted an undefeated conference record that included 4 shutouts and saw the Bearcats only surrender 5 total points to league foes.  The Bearcats didn’t just defeat their opponents; they dominated them throughout the year with 9 of their 21 victories coming via shutout. After a somewhat slow 7-5 start early on, they reeled off a stretch of 13 wins in 14 opportunities, surrendering only 11 total points to their opponents in those victories. Four individuals and two doubles teams captured MIAA titles and their 149 combined singles wins still stands today as a program record for one season.   
 
After dismantling Denver University in the NCAA Regional, they would find their season come to an end at the hands of Northwood but would still finish the year nationally ranked in the top 25.