Generals Chosen to Win ODAC Men’s Tennis Title

W&L on Top of Roanoke, Virginia Wesleyan in 2007 Survey

SALEM, Va.--- After finishing on top of the men's tennis standings for the 11th consecutive time in 2006, Washington & Lee was picked to win its 27th overall ODAC title and make it back to the NCAA tournament in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) 2007 Preseason Poll.

The Generals earned 100 total votes and all 10 first place nods according to the coaches' survey.  Roanoke College finished with 85 total votes, and Virginia Wesleyan College rounded out the top three with 80 total nods.

Gone from last year's W&L squad are ODAC Player of the Year and number one single's player, David Shay, and Charles Anderson, the ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Also missing due to graduation is Jordan Eichenberger.  All three were All-ODAC a season ago, but that certainly doesn't mean the cover is bare.  The Generals return all three of the remaining 2006 all-league honorees in junior Nat Estes, Seth Feibelman and Tim Ross.

Roanoke College returns Sebastian Castro, the league's 2006 Co-Rookie of the Year.  The Maroons look to have an experienced team with four seniors returning this year for head coach Phil Benne, and possibly challenge for the title after finishing in second place for the past three years behind W&L.

John Brinkman, last season's ODAC Coach of the Year, will look for ODAC Co-Rookie of the Year Steven Wright to lead the way as Virginia Wesleyan tries to better last season's school-record 17 victories.  The Marlins also return the 2006 #1 doubles champions in Eric Caudill and Jeff Zenisek, who ended the Generals 14 year doubles winning streak.  Caudill and Zenisek, both juniors, look to repeat their title again this season.

Listed below is the entire 2007 ODAC coaches poll. For a more in-depth view into each of the teams, please visit the ODAC on the web at www.odaconline.com

2007 ODAC Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll
(#) Denotes First Place Votes

School

Votes

1. Washington and Lee

100 (10)

2. Roanoke

85

3. Virginia Wesleyan

80

4. Hampden-Sydney

58

5. Bridgewater

56

6. Guilford

48

7. Lynchburg

37

8. Emory & Henry

36

9. Randolph-Macon

28

10. Eastern Mennonite

22