Washington and Lee, Bridgewater Round Out Top Three

SALEM, Va. --- Hampden-Sydney College received six first place votes and totaled 96 points overall in the 2010 ODAC Men's Tennis Preseason Poll.  Washington and Lee University collected four first place nods and earned 94 total points to claim second, while Bridgewater College picked up 75 points for the third spot. 

Hampden-Sydney (14-6 overall, 8-1 ODAC) claimed the 2009 ODAC crown with a 5-3 win over Washington and Lee, claiming the third championship for H-SC and effectively ending one of the longest championship streaks in the ODAC.  The Generals had previously won 13-straight men's tennis titles, dating back to the 1996 season.  The Tigers made it through to the NCAA Division III Second Round, posting a 5-1 victory over Transylvania University before falling to Emory University, 5-0.

Three first team selections remain on 2009 VaSID Coach of the Year Murrie Bates' roster, including three-time ODAC and 2009 VaSID Player of the Year, William Moss.  He's joined by junior Rich Pugh and sophomore Kevin Calhoun from last season's All-ODAC First Team.  The three combined for a 36-10 overall singles record and a 20-2 mark in ODAC play.  Moss was particularly potent, registering a 14-2 overall record and an 8-1 ODAC mark, all from the No. 1 singles position. 

Washington and Lee (15-6 overall, 9-0 ODAC) also welcomes back three All-ODAC First Team honorees, including the 2009 ODAC Rookie of the Year, Jeremy Becht, and sophomores Ben Fass and Michael Freeman.  Becht, a first team choice at No. 2 singles, recorded a 19-8 overall recorded and a flawless 6-0 mark in ODAC play while playing the majority of his time out of the No. 2 singles slot.  Fass and Freeman, who occupied the No. 4 and No. 5 slots on the All-ODAC First Team, notched a combined 37-17 overall record and a perfect 12-0 mark in conference play.

Bridgewater (11-8 overall, 7-2 ODAC) has a pair of all-conference players back in the fold, but the Eagles and 2009 ODAC Coach of the Year Connor Smith will be looking for some new faces to step for in 2010.  Chris Radke returns after earning a spot on the All-ODAC First Team from the No. 3 singles position.  He posted an 11-7 overall record and 7-1 conference mark.  He's joined by No. 4 singles second team choice, Teddy Callow.  The junior Richmond-native went 8-8 overall and 5-2 in league play a season ago. 

Listed below is the entire 2010 ODAC Men's Tennis Preseason Poll. For a more in-depth view into ODAC men's tennis, please visit the ODAC on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.