Jul 12, 2010 8:31:53 AM

The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced July 9 that the University of Dallas has been accepted as an affiliate member of the conference in women's and men's cross country and men's golf beginning with the 2010-11 academic year. 

SLIAC Commissioner William J. Wolper said the addition enhances the championship experience for league student-athletes in all three sports by increasing the size of the championship field. It also solidifies the league's automatic qualifier in men's golf.

"We are also pleased to offer the student-athletes from UD the opportunity to compete for a conference championship, and the awards and recognitions that come with that," Wolper said. "Because St. Louis and southern Illinois are key recruiting grounds for the institution as a whole, many of our teams have competed against the school in other sports."

Miriam Pride, President of Blackburn College and chair of the SLIAC Presidents Council, said, "We are particularly pleased that they share our commitment to excellence in academics and athletics. We look forward to the new and enhanced opportunities that will be possible as a result of this growth."

Founded in 1956, Dallas is a Catholic, co-educational university located in Irving, Texas.  The school sponsors 14 sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, softball, and women's volleyball. Dallas has been a Division III member since 1994 and has operated primarily as independent of conference affiliation since 2002.

Chartered in September 1989, the SLIAC began competition during the 1990-91 academic year. The conference currently conducts championships in 12 sports. In addition to the sports in which Dallas will compete, the conference also sponsors championships in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball. 

The nine current members of the SLIAC are Blackburn College, Eureka College, Fontbonne University, Greenville College, MacMurray College, Principia College, Spalding University, Webster University and Westminster College (Missouri). Eight of the nine schools compete in cross country and seven of the nine schools compete in golf.