FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Christopher Newport edged Mary Washington for the top spot in the 2020 CAC Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Captains received three first-place votes and 22 points, while the two-time defending champion Eagles received 20 points and two first-place votes atop the preseason rankings. UMW defeated CNU by a 5-0 decision in last year's conference championship match as the Eagles captured their 23rd league title.
Southern Virginia and Salisbury finished tied-for-third in the voting with 17 points with the Knight receiving the final first-place vote. York and St. Mary's both tied-for-fifth place with seven points to round out the poll.
Most CAC teams will open up their spring campaigns this weekend, with CAC play set to begin in March. The CAC Tournament will begin April 24, with the championship match slated for Saturday, May 2.
2020 CAC Men's Tennis Preseason Poll
Rank |
Institution |
Points (First-Place Votes) |
| 1. | Christopher Newport | 22 (3) |
| 2. | Mary Washington | 20 (2) |
| T3. | Southern Virginia | 17 (1) |
| T3. | Salisbury | 17 |
| T5. | York | 7 |
| T5. | St. Mary's | 7 |
Below is a brief preview of each team entering the 2020 campaign:
1) CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT men's tennis team will open the season picked to win the league for the first time in the history of the CAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Captains have been picked second in each of the last five rankings but edged the defending champions by two points heading into the 2020 season. Christopher Newport is coming off a 13-9 season that saw the team finish the 2018-19 campaign ranked 40th in the final poll and that is the same spot the Captains will open the spring campaign. Senior Dominic Lacombe leads the roster after reaching the NCAA Division III Singles National Championship tournament as a junior. Sophomore Ryan Macy also returns after collecting CAC Rookie of the Year honors last season.
2) MARY WASHINGTON will look to win their 25th CAC Championship this season. UMW returns first team All-CAC standouts in Moses Hutchison, Joseph Brown, and Michael Fleming. Cole Tecce is another notable standout that has been consistent for the Eagles. Head coach Todd Helbling brought in four new freshman that will hope to make an impact.
Number of Returning Starters: 3
Returning All-CAC Performers:
SINGLES
Joseph Brown, 3rd Pos., First team All-CAC in 2018
Michael Fleming, 4th Pos., CAC Rookie of the Year in 2017, 1st Team All-CAC in 2017, 2nd Team All-CAC in 2018
Moses Hutchison, 3rd Pos., First team All-CAC in 2019
Cole Tecce, 6th Pos. Second team All-CAC in 2018 and 2019
DOUBLES
Michael Fleming, 1st Pos., First Team All-CAC in 2017 and 2018, 2nd Team All-CAC in 2019
Moses Hutchison, 2nd Pos., First Team All-CAC in 2018 and 2019
T3) After a 13-6 overall record and a 4-3 record in the CAC, the SOUTHERN VIRGINIA University men's tennis team looks to continue their momentum in the spring after going 4-0 in the fall of 2019. The Knights return five of their top players in All-CAC Second Teamer Paul Monsen who was the No. 1 in singles as well as All-CAC First Team duo of Danny Blonquist and Kukutla Motlojoa who received a national ranking at No. 22 in doubles and are currently ranked No. 9. Southern Virginia University returns Tanner Bassett after serving a mission who played the number one spot in his freshman year. The Knights will rely on Marcos Dias to contribute to the team's success.
Notable Returners: 5
Paul Monsen
Danny Blonquist (No. 22 in doubles fall '19) currently ranked No. 9 in doubles
Kukutla Motlojoa (No. 22 in doubles fall '19) currently ranked No. 9 in doubles
Andrew Blonquist
Ben Spencer
Returning All-CAC performers:
No.1 Doubles Kukutla Motlojoa (Sr.) & Danny Blonquist (So.), Paul Monson (Jr.) No. 1 Singles
Motlojoa & Blonquist named VaSID All-State First Team.
T3) A senior-laden SALISBURY men's tennis team is coming off a strong fall where 2019 CAC Player of the Year Alec Angradi won the ITA Southeast Regional as an individual and teamed up with Ian Siew to win a regional championship as a doubles tandem to advance to the ITA Cup and become All-Americans. Angradi enters the spring season ranked 14th in the nation in singles. while the team of Angradi and Siew sit seventh in the country in doubles.
Number of returning starters: 5
Returning All-CAC Performers:
Singles: Alec Angradi (2019 CAC Player of the Year, First Team in 2019), Ian Siew (First Team in 2018 and 2019, Second Team in 2017), Stefan Hein (First Team in 2018)
Doubles: Ian Siew (First Team in 2019, Second team in 2018), Patrick MacLean (Second Team in 2017)
Returning All-Americans:
Singles: Alec Angradi
Doubles: Alec Angradi / Ian Siew
5) The YORK Spartan men's tennis team had a strong fall as they went 6-1 for the campaign. The Spartans were led by freshman Tej Laliwala as he went 6-1 in second singles. Senior Ben Sentz finished 4-3 at the top singles spot while Tyler Richard posted a 5-2 mark at the third singles spot. York had two different players earn decisions at the fourth and sixth singles positions while five Spartans played at least one match in the fifth singles slot.
Ben Sentz, Justin Rose, Tyler Richard
Ben Sentz, Justin Rose, Tyler Richard, Josiah Forry
6) The ST. MARY'S Men's Tennis team is looking to build off of their 5-12 2018-19 campaign and a 3-0 start in their fall season. The Seahawks return five starters and eight total student-athletes from last season. The Seahawks round out their roster with two newcomers in Stephen Alam and Liam Pratt. Alam played at the No. 1 and No. 3 singles spot for the Seahawks in the fall.