ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Men's Tennis Team has been picked to finish 13th in the South Atlantic Conference this season, conference officials announced Friday. The poll is voted on by the league's head coaches.

RELATED – SAC Preseason Poll & Preseason All-Conference Teams

E&H returns six players from last year's squad and welcomes eight newcomers. The Wasps posted a record of 13-6 last season while playing as a Division II Independent, including a win over rival and South Atlantic Conference member the University of Virginia's College at Wise. Emory & Henry's 2-2 record during the 2022 fall season included a win over border rival King (Tenn.) University. 

Tusculum University is first in the poll with five of 13 first-place votes. Anderson (S.C.) University sits tied in second with Wingate University. The Trojans received five first-place votes and the Bulldogs earned the remaining three. Carson-Newman University was tabbed to finish fourth and Lenoir-Rhyne University was picked fifth. 

The spring season gets underway on Saturday, February 18 at home against former ODAC opponent Guilford College at 1:00 p.m. The Wasps kick off SAC play with a trip to Anderson (S.C.) University (Sun., Feb. 19) before returning home to face another former ODAC foe University of Lynchburg on Wednesday, February 22 at 1:00 p.m. E&H wraps up the month with a home match against Catawba College on Tuesday, February 28 at 1:00 p.m.

The Wasps travel to face Lenoir-Rhyne University (Thu., Mar. 2), then return to Emory for a six-game homestand that includes matches against non-conference opponents Ashland University (Fri., Mar. 3), Midway University (Fri., Mar. 10) and Salem (W.Va.) University (Sat., Mar. 11). E&H gets back to SAC play with a home date on Tuesday, March 14 against Newberry College at 1:00 p.m. followed by another home conference match the next day Wednesday, March 15 against Lincoln Memorial University at 2:00 p.m. Emory & Henry ends the homestand with a showdown on Friday, March 17 against Wingate University at 3:00 p.m.

E&H makes the trip to Mars Hill University (Tue., Mar. 21) and plays host to the Cobras of Coker University on Friday, March 24 at 2:00 p.m. The Wasps briefly step out of conference to visit Bluefield University (Sat., Mar. 25) then make the trip to Jefferson City, Tennessee for a match versus Carson-Newman University (Wed., Mar. 29) to end the month.

Emory & Henry will kick off the final month of the season with a home match against Limestone University on Saturday, April 1 at 1:00 p.m., and follow it up the next day by honoring the 2023 senior class on Sunday, April 2 at 2:00 p.m., against rivals the University of Virginia's College at Wise. The Wasps wrap up the regular season with a road match against the Pioneers of Tusculum University (Tue., Apr. 11).

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2023 SAC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll

2023 Preseason All-SAC Men's Tennis Teams

First Team Doubles
Hugo Nossler/Florian Walcher, Wingate
Rhodri Atkinson/Frank Bonacia, Tusculum
Thibaut Decaluwe/Samuel Winter, Coker

Second Team Doubles
Lars Hordijk/Marc Janse, Carson-Newman
Juan Sengariz/Julian Kenzlers, Anderson
Nemanja Subanovic/Marco Jalalian, Tusculum

Third Team Doubles
Greyson Doscotch/Aaron Cabo, Anderson
Edis Nokic/Gabriel Constantino, Wingate
Faris Hadzisadikovic/Youssef Ardouni, Mars Hill

First Team Singles
Juan Sengariz, Anderson
Florian Walcher, Wingate
Mateo Bivol, Newberry
Rhodri Atkinson, Tusculum
Marc Janse, Carson-Newman
Marnix Van Dalen, Carson-Newman

Second Team Singles
Frank Bonacia, Tusculum
Lars Hordijk, Carson-Newman
Edis Nokic, Wingate
Gabriel Constantino, Wingate
Gjorgji Jankulovski, Carson-Newman

Third Team Singles
Greyson Doscotch, Anderson
Thibaut Decaluwe, Coker
Kenta Kondou, Tusculum
Philip Olsson, Anderson
Nemanja Subanovic, Tusculum
Julian Kenzlers, Anderson