The Division III Men's and Women's Tennis Committee used its July 6-9 meeting in Indianapolis to discuss a proposed joint championship that would go into effect in 2007.

The idea, which is supported by both the men's and women's subcommittees, would be dependent upon finding a host site with enough courts to accommodate a joint event. No final decisions were made on this issue.

The two subcommittees also conducted separate meetings, and actions from those sessions follow.

Women's subcommittee

The women's subcommittee considered a proposal to change from a seven-point scoring system to a nine-point scoring system, as is used in the Division I men's and women's and the Division III men's championships. Proponents of the change say it makes the championship more exciting because the system allows one point for doubles matches, and a team must win two of three matches to obtain that point. The format makes for a more dramatic third match if the teams have split the first two.

The subcommittee supports the change and plans to ask the Division III Championships Committee for permission to survey the membership about it.

In other actions, the subcommittee agreed that effective with the 2004-05 season, doubles teams must have played a minimum of six matches as doubles teams to be considered for selection to the Division III Women's Tennis Championships.

Subcommittee members also determined that when team selections are announced, individuals picked for singles and doubles play will be announced at the same time. In the past, selections for the individual portion of the championships were announced along with the finals team bracket, which occurs at the end of the first and second round of competition. The new system will give those individuals more advanced notice.

Also, the subcommittee approved a new format of matches for the championship. Starting in 2005, the first- and second-place teams will play their matches first, followed by the third- and fourth-place teams. In the past, the third- and fourth-place teams played first.

All matches will now be played to decision, rather than completion, in the first and second rounds and the finals of the team portion of the championship.

Kalamazoo College will host the 2005 championships May 18-23. The 2006 championships will be at the University of California, Santa Cruz, May 17-22.

Finally, Kathy Campbell, women's tennis coach at Vassar College, was selected to chair the subcommittee. She also will serve as chair of the full committee.

Men's subcommittee

The men's subcommittee is recommending that the University of California, Santa Cruz, host the 2005 championships and that Mary Washington College host the 2006 championships. Those recommendations must be approved by the Division III Championships Committee.

The group also proposed that beginning in 2005-06, strength of schedule will be defined as results against regionally ranked teams. Teams will be ranked once in the middle of the season and again before the championship selections.

James Berrigan, head men's and women's tennis coach at Babson College, was named chair of the men's subcommittee.