High Point, NC> The Lees-McRae College men’s tennis team has been voted the preseason top team in Conference Carolinas by league head coaches. Lees-McRae also enters the spring ranked No. 15 in the DII National Preseason ITA poll.
The Bobcats finished the 2009 season with a 19-7 overall record and an 8-0 conference record to earn the Conference Carolinas regular season title. Lees-McRae fell in the conference tournament finals, but advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they won their opening round match, but fell in the second round to end their season.
Individually, junior Nandor Solymosi is ranked 21st nationally and 7th in the southeast region. As a doubles team, Solymosi and junior Travis VanHoy are ranked 24th nationally and 6th in the southeast region. "I am very proud of the work my guys have put in to get us to this point,” head coach Paul Goode said. “There are many things we want to accomplish in the coming season, and we are very focused on those goals.
The Anderson University men’s tennis team was ranked second in the preseason poll. The Trojans are coming off a very successful 2009 season, finishing 14-7 overall (7-1 conference) and are ranked 22nd in the nation after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans suffered just one conference setback en route to capturing the programs' sixth straight Conference Carolinas men's tennis tournament title and its eighth in nine years.
Anderson’s second-year head coach Joey Eskridge will look to a blend of talented veterans and versatile newcomers as the Trojans return four letter winners from last season. Sophomore Stephane Murray and senior Renato Assuncao were named to the Conference all-tournament team, while and Assuncao and Benjamin Pepion each garnered wins in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
The Limestone College men’s tennis team was voted third in the preseason poll. The Saints, who earned the program’s first ever NCAA tournament bid last spring, are eager to contend for the 2010 conference title. The team was ranked No. 33 in the national ITA preseason poll and No. 10 in the Southeast region.
Limestone returns six players from last year’s roster, including Miguel Lopez Zuniga, who is ranked No. 10 in the region and No. 47 in the country. Other key returners include Henrik Nordquist, Paulo Avila, and Christian Warnholtz. The team has added two talented players in transfers Jordan Vicain and Mike Stephenson.
Queens University of Charlotte was voted fourth in the poll. The Royals, who are coming off of a 4-0 fall season, are looking forward to the upcoming season against some tough competition in the conference. The team was ranked No. 38 in the national ITA preseason poll.
Queens will be looking to the Conference Carolinas Individual Champion, Christiaan Lee-Daigle (Tecumseh, Ontario, L'Essor Secondary School) to lead their team to victory. He is also ranked 11th in the Southeast Region. Newcomers Joshua Bloch (Johannesburg, South Africa, King David), Gustavo Munhoz (Santos, Brazil, COC Universitario) and Raahil Dhruva (London, England, Parmiter's)will be looked upon to add depth to the team this year
Rounding out the men's tennis preseason poll 4-9 is: Queens, Mount Olive, Barton, Erskine & Pfeiffer (tied), Coker, and Belmont Abbey respectively.