Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll: Whitman After 13th Consecutive Title in 2020 Season
|
Team
|
Pts.
|
'19 NWC finish |
|
Whitman
|
63 (7)
|
1st
|
|
George Fox
|
58 (2)
|
2nd
|
|
Pacific (Ore.)
|
49
|
3rd
|
|
Lewis & Clark
|
44
|
4th
|
|
Whitworth
|
33
|
6th
|
|
Linfield
|
32
|
5th
|
|
Pacific Lutheran
|
18
|
7th
|
|
Willamette
|
16
|
8th
|
|
Puget Sound
|
11
|
9th
|
(Points awarded on an 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Coaches could not vote for their own teams; numbers in parentheses indicate first place votes)
HILLSBORO, Ore. – The Whitman Blues men’s tennis team is predicted to capture their 13thconsecutive NWC title, as voted on by conference coaches. The Blues received 63 points and seven first-place votes.
The Blues wrapped up the 2019 regular season undefeated in conference play, earning hosting rights for the NWC Championship. Cruising through Championship play, the Blues swept Lewis & Clark in the semifinals, 5-0, before defeating George Fox, 6-0, to claim the title for the twelfth year in a row. The team’s stellar season came to a close in the NCAA second round, falling to No. 13 Trinity (Tex.) at the Claremont Regional.
After claiming the ITA Regional doubles title in the fall, the Blues return NWC Player of the Year Ben Kirsh and All-NWC first team honoree Dan Foster. With just two first-year student-athletes, the seasoned Blues team ranks 27thnationally in the Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Preseason Poll and will seek to extend their NWC Championship win streak to 13 under NWC Coach of the Year Jeff Northam in his 24thseason.
George Fox receives 58 points and two first-place votes to rank second in the poll. The Bruins concluded their 2019 season as the regular season and NWC Championship runner-up, recording just one conference loss to Whitman, and falling in the NWC finals to the Blues after defeating Pacific (Ore.) in the semifinals. Four Bruins were named to the All-NWC team – all of which return for the 2020 season, including NWC Freshman of the Year Luke Lemaitre and ITA Regional individual champion Will Leach. With a solid group of returners and a 28th-place rank in the Oracle/ITA Preseason Poll, the Bruins are poised for another postseason run, and are sure to be a threat to the Blues this season.
Pacific (Ore.) earns 49 points to rank third in the poll. A consistent conference frontrunner, the Boxers wrapped up the 2019 season ranked third in conference standings with a 6-2 record. The Boxers earned a trip to the NWC Championship, but fell in the semifinals to the Bruins. The team returns three All-NWC selections, including first team choices Reyn Miyagawa and Rayden Murata. With an experienced 2020 roster, the Boxers are in line for another NWC Championship appearance.
Lewis & Clark ranks fourth in the poll with 44 points. The Pios ended their 2019 campaign with a 5-3 conference record and an NWC Championship appearance. The fourth-seeded Pios fell to eventual champion Whitman in the semifinals, capping off their successful season with two All-NWC selections, including returner Ramez Attia. Ranked consistently throughout the 2019 season in the Oracle/ITA poll, the Pios were just short of a recognition in the 2020 preseason poll, but look to a seasoned roster with just three first-year student-athletes as the team gears up for another successful run in the 2020 season.
Whitworth ranks fifth in the poll with 33 points. The Pirates are predicted to move up one spot from last season’s finish, having ended the 2019 season ranked sixth in NWC standings with a 3-5 record. The Pirates welcome back team leaders and brothers Ben and Jake Bethards, who will lead the team in their efforts this season.
Linfield sits just one point behind the Pirates with 32 to rank sixth. The Wildcats ended the 2019 season with a split conference record at 4-4, and are expected to move down one spot from their fifth-place finish last season. An All-NWC first team selection in 2019, Luis Rojas returns for his senior season with one individual win already under his belt, poised to lead the Wildcats as they pursue an NWC Championship appearance this season.
Pacific Lutheran earns 18 points to rank seventh in the poll. The Lutes are expected to remain in the same place they concluded the 2019 season, having finished with a 2-6 conference record. Team leader Michael Campbell returns a sophomore this season alongside Hampus Pers Eliasson, who received the first NWC Student-Athlete of the Week honor in 2020. The sophomore duo is expected to lead PLU this season as they seek to climb in conference standings.
Willamette ranks eighth in the poll with 16 points. The Bearcats ended their 2019 season ranked eighth with one conference win, and welcome five first-year student-athletes as they seek to build upon the previous season’s finish. Seniors Colin Fisher and Gene Perle-Jones will lead the young Bearcat team in the 2020 season.
Rounding out the poll in ninth is Puget Sound with 11 points. Having ended the 2019 season without a conference win, the Loggers will see first-year student-athlete Kosta Garger make an impact in the 2020 season after earning a first-round singles win at the ITA Regional in the fall. The young team will seek to build on last season’s finish under Head Coach Mathew Simons in his second season.
To view the complete 2020 Northwest Conference men's tennis schedule, click here.