A new era in tennis at the University of Virginia dawned four years ago with the opening of the Sheridan Snyder Tennis Center, a $1.4 million complex constructed in the heart of the historic grounds. The 13-court facility showcases UVa's nationally-ranked men's and women's tennis teams. With an environment to assure a winning program, the complex boasts state-of-the-art lighting and spectator areas built into the adjacent hillsides. Plans for the complex also include a tennis pavilion that will house instructional and meeting areas, tournament administration headquarters, and equipment storage space.

"The Sheridan Snyder Tennis Center is one of the finest collegiate tennis facilities in the country," head coach Brian Boland said. "We are extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful facility in which to compete and practice. Its location also provides tremendous visibility for the team, as we are the only athletic facility in the central grounds. This will allow us to be visible to the large number of tennis enthusiasts in the University and Charlottesville community."

The tennis center is named after Sheridan Snyder, a 1958 UVa graduate who founded the National Junior Tennis League. Snyder is also a board member of Friends of Virginia Tennis.

"Sherri Snyder loves the University of Virginia as much as anyone I have ever met," Boland added. "He played tennis for UVa and was captain of the team. We owe him and many other alumni and friends our sincere appreciation for providing us one of the finest facilities in the country."

Virginia's Sheridan Snyder Tennis Center not only provides a home for the Cavaliers, but also hosts institutions from the community and around the nation. In addition to University faculty and staff tournaments, clinics, and student classes, the courts accommodate community participants in the Dogwood Festival Tournament, a number of Junior Tournaments, and MATA Tournaments. Open 18 hours a day, the Center provides more than 120 hours of tennis opportunities each week. The University community's enthusiasm over the facility is evident in the steady stream of people enjoying the new courts.

Tennis facilities at UVa date back to 1931 with the construction of the Lady Astor tennis courts. The school's first tennis center was made possible by a gift from Nancy Lady Astor, a Virginia-born member of the British Parliament, who contributed her resources on the condition that others would take part in the venture.

During the more than six decades since the original 14 courts were built, innumerable matches have been played on the site.

Together, the University and The Friends of Tennis program hope to build on Lady Astor's foundation and create the most impressive and functional facility for collegiate tennis in the nation.