January 25, 2012

Eagles Picked to Finish Ninth in SAC Preseason Poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. –The Carson-Newman Eagles have been picked to finish ninth in the 2012 Men's Tennis South Atlantic Conference Preseason Poll, the league announced on Wednesday. Carson-Newman received 26 points in the poll in a vote by the league coaches.

ROCK HILL, S.C. –The Carson-Newman Eagles have been picked to finish ninth in the 2012 Men's Tennis South Atlantic Conference Preseason Poll, the league announced on Wednesday.

Carson-Newman received 26 points in the poll in a vote by the league coaches.

The young Eagles will have to replace seniors Adriano Kira, Chris Acker, and Trent Slagle, an All-SAC selection, if they are to improve on their ninth place preseason selection.

C-N's 2012 roster boasts five juniors, one sophomore, and five freshmen, making the Eagles one of the league's youngest teams.

C-N opens its season against the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) on Feb. 17. and open SAC play on March 14 against Brevard.

The Wingate Bulldogs have been selected as favorites to capture the 2012 SAC men's tennis championship in a vote by the conference's coaches.

Wingate, champions of the 2011 SAC regular season, received five first-place votes for a total of 94 points, edging out last year's Food Lion SAC Tournament champion Anderson, as the Trojans tallied four first-place votes and 92 points.

Wingate, which finished 2011 with a perfect 9-0 SAC record, will compete with a lineup that features three 2012 Preseason All-Conference First Team selections in seniors Matthew Lichtenstein, Drew Owen and Flavio Rathsam. Lichtenstein is currently ranked 14^th in the ITA Southeast Region rankings, which were based on fall tournament results.

Anderson will look to build off a 2011 season in which it earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament, where it knocked of Queens in the first round before falling to a then-undefeated Armstrong Atlantic squad. The Trojans will be led by Preseason All-Conference First Team selections Stan Atema, who is ranked 13^th in the Southeast Region, and Deni Mehagic.

Lincoln Memorial has been picked third in the preseason poll followed by Brevard at No. 4. Both teams return key contributors as junior Philipp Hoffmann, who was selected on the Preseason All-Conference First Team, is expected to lead the Railsplitters while 2011 SAC Freshman of the Year Sam MacNeil will pace the Tornados.

Mars Hill received one first place vote in the preseason coaches' poll and is part of a three-way tie for fifth along with Newberry and Tusculum.

The Wolves placed one player on the preseason All-SAC First Team in Vinicius Botelho.

Catawba was tabbed eighth in the preseason poll, totaling 32 points, while Carson-Newman was slotted in the No. 9 position with 26 points.

Rounding out the preseason poll is Lenoir-Rhyne at No. 10.

The league's top-six teams will qualify for the 2012 Food Lion SAC Championship, which will be held on April 19-21 at the Rock Hill Tennis Center in Rock Hill, S.C.

2012 SAC Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll

Team - Points (1^st-place votes)

1. Wingate - 94 (5)

2. Anderson - 92 (4)

3. Lincoln Memorial - 79

4. Brevard - 55

t5. Mars Hill - 54 (1)

t5. Newberry - 54

t5. Tusculum - 54

8. Catawba - 32

9. Carson-Newman - 26

10. Lenoir-Rhyne - 10