PROVIDENCE, RI. (July 9, 2026) – Former UMass Boston men's tennis standout Charles Lai (Boston, Mass.) has been named to the 2026 Little East Conference Hall of Fame, the conference announced Thursday.

Lai still holds multiple UMass Boston program records, including career matches won (97) and career doubles matches won (50).

Following the conclusion of his playing career with the Beacons in 2015, Lai returned to the program in a coaching capacity, guiding the way to the 2017 LEC title as an assistant coach before leading the program to the 2019 LEC title as head coach.

Induction ceremonies will take place on each inductee's respective campus during the upcoming academic year.

First established in 2012, the LEC Hall of Fame now includes 147 individuals (76 men, 71 women) and seven teams. The LEC's 12th Hall of Fame class includes:

1998 Southern Maine Women's Basketball Team
 
David Nicholson (Eastern Connecticut), Men's Track & Field
 
Katie Bradford (Keene State), Women's Soccer and Softball
 
Charles Lai (UMass Boston), Men's Tennis
 
Kevin Cutler (UMass Dartmouth), Men's Track & Field
 
Paul Andrew (Plymouth State), Men's Soccer
 
Shawn Griffin (Plymouth State), Men's Soccer (Coach)
 
Dayna (Reilly) Kitterick (Rhode Island College), Women's Tennis
 
Jamie Ruginski (Southern Maine), Men's Track & Field
 
Jess Williamson (Southern Maine), Women's Volleyball
 
Lauren (Post) Manzi, (Western Connecticut), Women's Tennis

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