FOREST, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Men's Tennis Team has been picked to finish in eighth place in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference this season, ODAC officials announced Friday. The poll is voted on by the league's 11 head coaches.
The Wasps, under first-year Head Coach Kevin Girard, are coming off a 14-4 record last year (8-2 ODAC), and a third-place finish in the regular season. E&H returns just one player in sophomore Alex Minasyan (Moscow, RUSSIA) with extensive collegiate playing experience. Minasyan was an All-ODAC Third-Team pick at No. 2 singles a year ago after a 13-4 singles record and 16 doubles wins.
Also returning are junior John Hanlon (Bristol, Tenn.) and sophomore Jonathan Romano (Bland, Va.). The two played sparingly a season ago, acclimating to the college game behind a senior-laded squad that reached the ODAC Tournament Semifinals in back-to-back years.
Emory & Henry's newcomers include 2013 Virginia Group A singles champion John Ferguson (Gate City, Va.) and doubles partner and Luke Funkhouser (Gate City, Va.). The pair finished second in the Group A doubles tournament and led Gate City to the State Semifinals in team competition.
Also joining the Wasps is freshman Kamil Aliev (Moscow, RUSSIA), who played No. 1 singles during the fall prior to Minasyan's return from abroad. Freshman Eric Logan (Abingdon, Va.) will add depth to the roster after a successful prep career at Abingdon High School.
Washington and Lee University received 10 of 11 first-place votes and 100 points, and is picked to win the league for a 33rd time. Bridgewater College is second with 83 points while Virginia Wesleyan College is third (75). Guilford rounds out the top four with 68 points and the final top nod.
The Wasps open the spring portion of their schedule on Wednesday, February 26 with a non-conference contest at Bluefield College. E&H will have its first ODAC match against Hampden-Sydney College on Saturday, March 1 on the campus of Hollins University. Emory & Henry's first home match is Sunday, March 2 at noon against Randolph-Macon College.
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2014 ODAC Men's Tennis
Preseason Coaches' Poll
| 1. Washington and Lee (10) | 100 pts. |
| 2. Bridgewater | 83 pts. |
| 3. Virginia Wesleyan | 75 pts. |
| 4. Guilford (1) | 68 pts. |
| 5. Hampden-Sydney | 62 pts. |
| 6. Randolph-Macon | 58 pts. |
| 7. Roanoke | 52 pts. |
| 8. Emory & Henry | 43 pts. |
| 9. Randolph | 25 pts. |
| 10. Lynchburg | 20 pts. |
| 11. Shenandoah | 19 pts. |