Men's Tennis | 1/17/2020 1:44:00 PM
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The defending national champion Barry Buccaneer tennis teams were both picked first in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Preseason Polls.
The Buccaneer men, who finished 26-1 last season and did not lose to an NCAA Division II team, garnered all eight first-place votes in the poll. The Bucs, who defeated Columbus State 4-3 after trailing 3-0 in the national final, face a daunting schedule this season. The Bucs have 10 of their 14 NCAA Division II games against Top-25 opponents and one of their two NAIA opponents are in the Top-10.
Barry faces off with seventh-ranked Flagler, ninth-ranked Hawai'i Pacific, 18th-ranked North Georgia and 19th-ranked Valdosta State during the regular season in non-conference matches. In Sunshine State Conference play, the Bucs match up with fifth-ranked Saint Leo, 11th-ranked Lynn and 24th-ranked Embry-Riddle. Keiser, ranked seventh in the NAIA, also has a date at Buccaneer Tennis Center.
The Bucs will also take part in the ITA Indoor Championships, featuring the top teams in the division. In addition to Barry, Saint Leo, Flagler and Hawai'i Pacific, second-ranked Columbus State, third-ranked West Florida, fourth-ranked Wingate and 15th-ranked Midwestern State are also in the field. Barry faces MSU in the quarterfinals.
Barry's first home match this season is Feb. 11 against crosstown rival St. Thomas University.
The women, who finished last season 26-2 as their captured their third straight national championship, received seven of eight first-place votes. The Bucs, in search of a record-tying fourth straight title, face of with a majority of the top teams in the division. The Bucs have six ranked non-conference opponents, four ranked opponents in the Sunshine State Conference and one NAIA Top-10 foe.
The Bucs face number-eight Hawai'i Pacific, 10th-ranked North Georgia, 13th-ranked Flagler, number-19 Academy of Art and 24th-ranked Wayne State from Michigan. The SSC is, once again, the top league in the country. Aside from the top-ranked Bucs, Lynn checks in at number two, Nova Southeastern at five, Saint Leo at six, and Florida Southern at 18th. NAIA second-ranked Keiser also visits the Buccaneer Tennis Center.
The women also play at the ITA Indoor Championships. In addition to the Bucs, Columbus State (#3), Indianapolis (#4), Nova Southeastern, Saint Leo, Hawai'i Pacific, Central Oklahoma (#9) and Washburn (#20), the Bucs' quarterfinal opponent, also will compete in Edmond, Okla.
The Bucs open the regular season against cross-town rival Florida National on Feb. 5.
