Washington and Lee Leads ODAC Men's Tennis Preseason Poll

Guilford, Hampden-Sydney Tight for Second

FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University has lifted eight straight league trophies and was picked to repeat yet again as the Generals headline the annual ODAC Men's Tennis Preseason Poll conducted by the league's head coaches. W&L earned 10 first place votes on the way to 100 total points. Guilford College and Hampden-Sydney College are separated by just three points for the next two positions. The Quakers tallied 84 points, while the Tigers picked up 81 markers including the remaining top nod.

Men's tennis is a charter sport in the ODAC dating back to the league's first season of competition in 1976-77. Washington and Lee has been a constant force throughout, winning 36 of the 41 championships competed. On the way to their latest title, the top-seeded Generals sprinted thru three matches in the 2017 ODAC Tournament with a trio of 5-0 victories over Virginia Wesleyan, Hampden-Sydney, and Guilford. The occasion marked the first-ever title match appearance for the Quakers.

Washington and Lee, which finished the 2017 season ranked 30th in the country and sixth in the Atlantic South Region by the ITA, continued its campaign in the NCAA team tournament. Its stay, however, wasn't as long as anticipated as the Generals fell to 22nd-ranked Sewanee, 5-3, in the first round at Emory University.

Jordan Krasner, who earned ODAC Player of the Year honors for a second time in addition to the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete award, continued his season in the Division III singles and doubles tournament. After an extraordinary first set that went to several extra points, Krasner was defeated by Grant Urken from Bowdoin College, 7-6 (12-10), 6-1, in the opening round of the tournament.

Even without Krasner following graduation, Washington and Lee opens the 2018 spring season carrying the ODAC's banner in the ITA rankings. The Generals sit 30th in the national poll and sixth in the Atlantic South listing.

RELATED: ITA National Poll | ITA Regional Poll

Much of that prediction centers on W&L featuring eight of the 23 returning All-ODAC honors from a season ago. The Generals, however, aren't the only squad boasting more than a handful of accolades as Bridgewater and reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Jordon Robinson welcome back a half-dozen honors.

The source of W&L's recognition is focused on the first team with four singles and four doubles honors. Zack Ely, Mac Zheng, Mitchell Thomas, and Thomas Harmon collected first team laurels at #3, #4, #5, and #6 singles, respectively. Harmon and Zheng picked up a second set of honors at #2 doubles, while Charlie Kittredge was one-half of the #1 doubles tandem and Thomas was one side of the duo that earned a nod at #3 doubles.

All of Bridgewater's honors were from the 2017 second team. Josh Rodgers and Nathaniel Horner earned #4 and #5 singles awards, while Rodgers and Joe Dillenbeck were recognized at #1 doubles and Horner and Freddie Roberts garnered recognition at #3 doubles. Horner and Roberts have been partners going on two seasons and improved from 8-7 in 2015-16 to 14-5 in 2016-17.

Guilford looks to 2017 ODAC Rookie of the Year Tate Godwin to lead the charge. In addition to the top first-year honor, the Chapel Hill native earned first team honors at #1 singles and a second team choice as one-half of Guilford's #1 doubles pairing.

The remaining first team returners wear Hampden-Sydney College colors. Michael Moody was a double-honoree, picking up #2 singles laurels in addition to #1 doubles accolades with his brother and playing-partner Matthew Moody.

The 2018 spring season begins with non-conference action on Thursday, February 1.  The first ODAC match is slated for Saturday, February 24. The ODAC Tournament is set to begin Wednesday, May 2, with quarterfinal action at the four highest seeds. The semifinals and finals will be held at Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday and Sunday, May 5-6.

Listed below is the complete 2018 ODAC Men's Tennis Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC men's tennis programs.  For more information on ODAC men's tennis, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.

2018 Poll Position: 4th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 13-6/9-1 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/Eliminated in semifinals Head Coach: Jordon Robinson Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Josh Rodgers (#4S/#1D), Nathaniel Horner (#5S/#3D), Joe Dillenbeck (#1D), Freddie Roberts (#3D) Returning Singles Wins Leaders (top-5) Nathaniel Horner -- 14-3 (12-2 at #5) Josh Rodgers -- 9-3 (6-2 at #4) Emmett Johnson -- 9-5 (6-4 at #6) Joe Dillenbeck -- 8-8 (6-8 at #2) Freddie Roberts -- 6-6 (4-2 at #6) Returning Doubles Wins Leaders (top-3) Nathaniel Horner/Freddie Roberts -- 14-5 (13-4 at #3) Joe Dillenbeck/Josh Rodgers -- 9-4 (9-4 at #1)		2018 Poll Position: 7th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-5/6-4 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/Eliminated in quarterfinals Head Coach: Charles Gray Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None Returning Singles Wins Leaders (top-5) Grant Sarver -- 11-4 (8-2 at #3) Shane Berry -- 6-6 (6-5 at #6) Jacob Haines -- 1-9 (1-9 at #1) Baxter Carter -- 1-15 (1-9 at #2) Returning Doubles Wins Leaders (top-3) Baxter Carter/Grant Sarver -- 7-8 (7-8 at #1)
2018 Poll Position: 11th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 3-15/1-9 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Christine Johnson Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None Returning Singles Wins Leaders (top-5) Liam Davidson -- 1-7 (1-2 at #6) Grayson McCarty -- 1-12 (1-5 at #5) Andrew McClung -- 1-6 (1-1 at #6) Dalton Shipley -- 1-15 (1-6 at #4) Returning Doubles Wins Leaders (top-3) No full tandems returning		2018 Poll Position: 9th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 3-13/2-8 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Jake Morris Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Jose Alvarado (#2S) Returning Singles Wins Leaders (top-5) Jose Alvarado -- 9-6 (8-6 at #2) Matt Friedlander -- 4-10 (4-7 at #6) Bill Goins -- 4-12 (2-4 at #3) Neel Shah -- 4-12 (3-8 at #5) Jack Doriss -- 2-2 (2-0 at #5) Returning Doubles Wins Leaders (top-3) Jose Alvarado/Neel Shah -- 3-2 (3-2 at #2)
2018 Poll Position: 2nd 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-6/8-2 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/Runner-up Head Coach: Dave McCain Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Tate Godwin (#1S)   Second Team: Tate Godwin (#1D) Returning Singles Wins Leaders (top-5) Tate Godwin -- 10-11 (8-7 at #1) Graham Pearson -- 7-4 (2-1 at #6) Logan Glass -- 2-1 Returning Doubles Wins Leaders (top-3) Chasen Chacon/Graham Pearson -- 8-7 (8-7 at #2)		2018 Poll Position: 10th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 2-13/0-10 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Larry Hubbard Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None Returning Singles Wins Leaders (top-5) Matt Hwang -- 6-10 (5-10 at #1) Brett Dubin -- 5-6 (3-3 at #2) Evan Rosenberg -- 4-12 (2-4 at #4) Kyle Denning -- 3-3 (2-1 at #6) Returning Doubles Wins Leaders (top-3) Brett Dubin/Evan Rosenberg -- 4-1 (4-1 at #2) Bryan Harris/Matt Hwang -- 4-8 (3-7 at #1) Brett Dubin/Matt Hwang -- 3-3 (1-2 at #1)
2018 Poll Position: 3rd 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-7/6-4 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/Eliminated in semifinals Head Coach: Robert Bareford Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Michael Moody (#2S/#1D), Matthew Moody (#1D)   Second Team: Grayson Burns (#6S) Returning Singles Wins Leaders (top-5) Michael Moody -- 13-3 (13-3 at #2) Matthew Moody -- 13-5 (13-5 at #1) Levy Young -- 10-8 (8-6 at #5) Grayson Burns -- 9-0 (8-0 at #6) Clark Cummings -- 6-7 (6-6 at #4) Returning Doubles Wins Leaders (top-3) Matthew Moody/Michael Moody -- 16-2 (16-2 at #1) Grayson Burns/Levy Young -- 3-4 (3-4 at #3)		2018 Poll Position: 5th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 5-17/3-7 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #8 Seed/Eliminated in quarterfinals Head Coach: Marty Perry Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Paul Gladstone (#1S) Returning Singles Wins Leaders (top-5) Paul Gladstone -- 9-12 (8-8 at #1) Nick Gunther -- 6-13 (4-3 at #4) Andreas Combos -- 6-15 (4-9 at #3) Drew Fairbanks -- 5-10 (5-8 at #6) Returning Doubles Wins Leaders (top-3) Andreas Combos/Drew Fairbanks -- 1-8 (1-7 at #6)
2018 Poll Position: 6th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-12/4-6 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #7 Seed/Eliminated in quarterfinals Head Coach: Chris Johnson Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Juan Borga (#1S) Returning Singles Wins Leaders (top-5) Juan Borga -- 11-6 (11-6 at #1) Bryce Barber -- 8-7 (7-6 at #4) Zack Shane -- 7-10 (7-8 at #3) Will Nsoesie -- 3-9 (3-6 at #5) Returning Doubles Wins Leaders (top-3) Dominick Gutierrez/Nick Savino -- 6-11 (6-6 at #3) Bryce Barber/Zack Shane -- 2-2 (2-1 at #2)		2018 Poll Position: 1st 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 16-7/10-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/Champions Head Coach: David Detwiler Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Zack Ely (#3S), Mac Zheng (#4S/#2D), Mitchell Thomas (#5S/#3D), Thomas Harmon (#6S/#2D), Charlie Kittredge (#1D)   Second Team: None Returning Singles Wins Leaders (top-5) Mac Zheng -- 18-6 (9-2 at #4) Zack Ely -- 15-9 (12-6 at #3) Mitchell Thomas -- 15-9 (8-3 at #5) Thomas Harmon -- 14-7 (9-4 at #6) Justin Gillette -- 4-3 (2-0 at #5) Returning Doubles Wins Leaders (top-3) Thomas Harmon/Mac Zheng -- 14-7 (8-4 at #2) Zack Ely/Justin Gillette -- 2-2
2018 Poll Position: 8th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-6/6-4 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/Eliminated in quarterfinals Head Coach: Jamie Megginson Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None Returning Singles Wins Leaders (top-5) Bradley Strober -- 10-8 (9-7 at #1) Joe Kaneda -- 5-7 (4-5 at #6) Returning Doubles Wins Leaders (top-3) No full tandems returning