Eagles picked eighth in SAC preseason poll; Slagle named first team All-SAC
ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Carson-Newman men's tennis team is picked to finish eighth in the 2011 South Atlantic Conference race, league officials announced Thursday.
ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Carson-Newman men's tennis team is picked to finish eighth in the 2011 South Atlantic Conference race, league officials announced Thursday.
The Eagles, who went 4-4 in conference play last season, received 46 points in a vote of the league's head coaches.
C-N senior Trent Slagle (Knoxville, Tenn.) was named first team All-SAC. Slagle, who was a second team All-SAC performer a year ago, went 8-8 at No. 2 singles and compiled a 9-8 record in No. 1 doubles last season.
Anderson University is the favorite to win the 2011 SAC title.
Anderson received five first place votes and 90 total points. The Trojans are playing in their first season in the South Atlantic Conference, after going 13-8 last season and making the NCAA tournament. The Trojans are paced by Stan Atema, a preseason All-Conference second team selection.
Wingate University, who finished the 2010 season in second place, is picked to finish second again. The Bulldogs, received two first place votes and 87 total points.
Wingate placed four players on the preseason All-Conference team. Matt Lichtenstein, Braeden Patchell, and Flavio Rathsam all were picked to the first team, while Drew Owen was on the second team.
Lincoln Memorial University is picked to finish third after receiving two first place votes and 81 total points. Philipp Hoffmann, the 2010 SAC Men's Tennis Freshman of the Year paces the Railsplitters making first team preseason All-Conference, while Tom Goosens was a second team pick. The Railsplitters are the defending conference and Food Lion SAC Tournament champions.
Brevard College received one first place vote and 56 total points to finish fourth in the preseason poll. The Tornados placed three on the preseason All-Conference team. Scott McCormick, a 2010 first team player, was picked to the preseason first team, while Cole Altizer and Shane Apps were selected to the second team.
Mars Hill College and Tusculum College tied for fifth place with 52 points each.
The Lions are led by second team preseason All-Conference selection Lucas Simm.
The Pioneers placed four on the preseason All-Conference team. Steve Lin and Luis Zamora were selected to the preseason All-Conference first team, while Drew Kiser and Oliver Smith were both placed on the second team.
Catawba College received 47 total points to finish seventh in the voting.
Lenoir-Rhyne University is predicted to finish ninth in the standings after receiving 21 total points.
Newberry rounds out the poll with 18 points.
2011 SAC MEN'S TENNIS COACHES POLL
Poll 1st Points
1. Anderson 5 90
2. Wingate 2 87
3. Lincoln Memorial 2 81
4. Brevard 1 56
5. Mars Hill 52
5. Tusculum 52
7. Catawba 47
8. Carson-Newman 46
9. Lenoir-Rhyne 21
10. Newberry 18
2011 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE MEN'S TENNIS TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
Scott McCormick, Brevard
Trent Slagle, Carson-Newman
Philipp Hoffmann, Lincoln Memorial
Steven Lin, Tusculum
Luis Zamora, Tusculum
Matt Lichtenstein, Wingate
Braeden Patchell, Wingate
Flavio Rathsam, Wingate
SECOND TEAM
Stan Atema, Anderson
Cole Altizer, Brevard
Shane Apps, Brevard
Tom Goosens, Lincoln Memorial
Lucas Simm, Mars Hill
Drew Kiser, Tusculum
Oliver Smith, Tusculum
Drew Owen, Wingate
