Fayetteville, NC – The Piedmont College men’s tennis team was picked to finish 4th in the 2015 USA South Preseason Coaches Poll released earlier today by the conference office. This is the second straight season that the men have been slated to finish 4th in the poll after a similar nod in 2014.
The poll, as voted on by the coaches of the ten member institutions who sponsor men’s tennis, had Piedmont in 4th with 58 total points while last year’s champ, North Carolina Wesleyan College, was picked to defend its 2014 title with 80 total points taking eight of the ten possible first place votes. The two remaining institutions who earned 1st place votes were 2nd place Methodist (70 total points) and 3rd place Huntingdon (68 total points).
Piedmont finished 4th in last year’s final regular season standings and made an appearance in the semifinals of the USA South Championship Tournament as well bowing out to the eventual champs, NC Wesleyan. The Battling Bishops’ title was the 6th straight for the North Carolina based school with its season coming to an end against #6 Emory in the NCAA Regional Semis.
Rounding out the remainder of the poll was #5 Averett (45 total points), #6 LaGrange (41), #7 Covenant (32), #8 Ferrum (24), #9 Greensboro (21), and #10 Maryville (11).
Piedmont has its work cut out to continue the trend of success established by Head Coach Shane Wood as the Lions must replace four seniors lost from last season’s campaign. Last year’s senior class represented the freshmen class on Piedmont’s 2011 GSAC Championship team, but the future looks bright for PC as the Lions return a pair of All-Conference performers including senior TREY MARTIN and last year’s USA South Rookie of the Year in 1st team selection MATTHEW METZGER.
The Lions will open the 2015 season with a February 13 showdown with Sewanee who finished 2014 with a 15-7 overall record and earned a win over Elmhurst in a NCAA tourney showing after winning the Southern Athletic Association title at the end of April. This will be the third straight time that PC has opened the season with Sewanee on the docket.
After five straight matches away from home to open 2015, the Lions will return to Burgen Tennis Courts for the home opener against USA South member William Peace on March 15 with the match slated to begin at 10:00 am. The USA South Championship Tournament will be held on the campus of N.C. Wesleyan College at the end of the regular season on the weekend of April 17-19 in 2015.
2015 USA South Men’s Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank Institution (1st Place Votes) Pts.
1. N.C. Wesleyan (8) 80
2. Methodist (1) 70
3. Huntingdon (1) 68
4. Piedmont 58
5. Averett 45
6. LaGrange 41
7. Covenant 32
8. Ferrum 24
9. Greensboro 21
10. Maryville 11
