Men Tabbed Fourth, Women Sixth in Preseason Tennis Polls
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate men's tennis team, coming off of a perfect 10-0 conference campaign in 2010, was selected fourth in the preseason coaches' poll. Meanwhile, the women's team was picked sixth as the conference office in Macon, Ga., released the results of its preseason poll today.
The men's squad kicked off its spring season on Sunday at Georgia Tech. The 60th-ranked Spartans fell to the 23rd-ranked Yellow Jackets, 7-0. The women's team will begin their play on Saturday at Clemson in a match slated to begin at 5:00 p.m.
ETSU was picked to win the men's conference crown and the Bucs were followed by Stetson and North Florida.
After the Spartans came in at number four, the poll was rounded out by Campbell, Jacksonville, Mercer, Belmont, Florida Gulf Coast, Kennesaw State and Lipscomb.
Sander Gille of ETSU was selected men's preseason player of the year. Gille and teammate Jesus Bandres (ETSU) were tabbed the preseason doubles team of the year.
The women's top-three was similar to the men's poll, ETSU was picked as the champion, but North Florida was selected second, followed by Stetson. Florida Gulf Coast and Campbell rounded out the top five.
Following Upstate, who was selected sixth, were Kennesaw State, Jacksonville, Mercer, Belmont and Lipscomb.
Aline Berkenbrock of North Florida was named preseason player of the year, while Carolina de los Santos and Unnati Purushotham (Stetson) were named preseason doubles team of the year.
Men's Singles Player of the Year: Sander Gille, ETSU
Men's Preseason Team Rankings
1. ETSU
2. Stetson
3. UNF
4. USC Upstate
5. Campbell
6. Jacksonville
7. Mercer
8. Belmont
9. FGCU
10. Kennesaw State
11. Lipscomb
Women's Singles Player of the Year: Aline Berkenbrock, UNF
Women's Doubles Team of the Year: Carolina de los Santos / Unnati Purushotham, Stetson
Women's Preseason Team Rankings
1. ETSU
2. UNF
3. Stetson
4. FGCU
5. Campbell
6. USC Upstate
7. Kennesaw State
8. Jacksonville
9. Mercer
10. Belmont
11. Lipscomb