PRINCESS ANNE, Md. — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore athletic department was forced to cancel the second half of the 2016 men’s tennis schedule after circumstances left the program unable to suit up enough student athletes to compete per National Collegiate Athletic Association bylaw 20.9.6.3 “Minimum Contests and Participation Requirements for Sports Sponsorship.”

“We lost a number of student athletes to retention, attrition and injury,” Athletic Director Keith Davidson said. “The decision was made with a heavy heart and only after knowing that we had exhausted all other options. This was a blow to those student athletes who put in the hard work prepared to compete this season.”

The Hawks did not compete in any of the 10 scheduled men’s tennis matches through March 21 because of low numbers and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference was notified on March 24 that the entire season would be lost.

Cancelling the men’s tennis schedule does not put University of Maryland Eastern Shore Athletics in jeopardy of not meeting the minimum award requirement per NCAA bylaw 20.9.3.2.

The Hawks fielded 14 varsity teams this academic year and the NCAA requires 14 for Division I eligibility.