Men's Tennis | 1/25/2019 3:39:00 PM
MELBOURNE, Fla. – Barry University ranks No. 1 in the 2019 Sunshine State Conference Preseason Men's Tennis Coaches Poll. Winners in six of the last seven SSC tournaments, the Buccaneers received 63 total votes and seven first-place votes in this year's ranking.
Lynn University and Saint Leo University tie for second place in the poll with 53 points apiece, however, SLU picked up the remaining two first-place votes. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University holds fourth place following 40 points from league coaches, while Rollins College finishes in fifth with 36 points. Rounding out the preseason conference ranking are Palm Beach Atlantic University (30 points), Florida Southern College (25 points), Florida Tech (16 points), and Eckerd College (8 points).
Barry bested Saint Leo, the 2018 regular season champion, in the SSC postseason tournament and earned an automatic bid into the NCAA postseason. The Buccaneers were joined in regional play by Saint Leo, Lynn, Embry-Riddle, and Palm Beach Atlantic. Both Barry and Lynn emerged out of regional play to earn a spot at the NCAA finals site, but it was the Buccaneers who reached the national title game and finished the season as National-Runner up following a close match with Columbus State University.
The Bucs are led by 2018 All-Americans Pierre Montrieul and Carlos Gomez. Montrieul, the ITA National Player to Watch, went 14-4 in singles last year, including 13-4 at the #1 position. He posted a 10-3 mark against nationally ranked foes. Gomez was 13-6 in singles, including 10-5 at the #2 spot and was 6-3 against ranked opponents.
Barry, Lynn, and Rollins account for all eight of the SSC's men's tennis national championships. The Buccaneers have won the most recent titles (2010, 2013, & 2015), while the Fighting Knights won in 2007. The remaining four championships belong to the Tars, who last won the title in 2001.
Nova Southeastern will host the 2019 SSC men's and women's tennis championships April 25-27 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Winners of each tournament will receive automatic qualification to the 2019 NCAA Division II Championships. First and second rounds for the 2019 NCAA Championships will be played at non-predetermined sites May 11-14. Finals for both men and women will take place Tuesday, May 21st - Saturday, May 25th at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Above are the full results of the 2019 SSC preseason coaches' poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their teams (points: 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses).
