The coaches have spoken: for the second year in a row, the Suffolk men’s tennis team has been ranked first in the GNAC’s annual preseason poll.
The Rams received 20 points in the poll, meaning they got five first-place votes. The second-ranked team, Emerson, received 15 points.
The Rams are the defending GNAC Champions, and seem to remain the team to beat in the conference this coming season.
The team finished last season with a 9-3 overall record and put up a 3-1 mark in GNAC play. The Rams open the 2010 season tomorrow at Johnson & Wales at 3:30 p.m.
The Rams will return most of last year’s successful squad, including reigning Rookie of the Year Christopher Staley. Also returning will be Diego Alvarado (First Team Singles All-Conference) and Jared Orkin (Second Team Singles All-Conference).
The full preseason poll, with each team’s 2009 record in parentheses, is below.
2010 GNAC preseason tennis coaches’ poll
1. Suffolk Rams (9-3, 3-1 GNAC)
2. Emerson Lions (8-4, 4-0 GNAC)
3. Johnson & Wales Wildcats (3-6, 1-3 GNAC)
T-4. Norwich Cadets (6-6, 2-2 GNAC)
T-4. Albertus Magnus Falcons (4-5, 0-4 GNAC)
