FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Finlandia University has joined the Capital Athletic Conference.

Finlandia announced the move on Tuesday, the effective date of the university’s inclusion to the CAC.

Finlandia joins other ACAA members in the CAC, including UC-Santa Cruz, Mills, Mount Mary, Pine Manor and Pratt Institute. This will push the CAC to 11 members for the 2020-21 season.

“This is a great opportunity, not only for athletics, but for Finlandia University as a whole,” Finlandia athletic director Curtis Wittenberg said. “We now have the chance to potentially qualify for the NCAA tournament in all of our sports which will help increase the recruiting regions for our programs.”

With the move, Finlandia can qualify for the NCAA Tournament in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, softball and volleyball. With this expansion, the CAC is looking to rebrand.

“The Capital Athletic Conference is pleased to welcome these six institutions as the league’s newest members,” said University of Mary Washington president and chair of the CAC board of directors Troy Paino. “We look forward to the bright future this newly-structured league will be able to offer our schools and student-athletes.”