Thursday, January 20, 2011

MACON, Ga. – The ETSU men’s tennis team claimed top billing for the Atlantic Sun Conference as the Atlantic Sun coaches picked the Buccaneers to finish first in the conference and to claim their fifth consecutive A-Sun Championship. The Bucs’ Sander Gille picked up the Preseason Player of the Year honors after earning the 2010 Tournament MVP and Player of the Year awards in his sophomore season. Gille and teammate Jesus Bandres garnered the Preseason Doubles Team of the Year accolade.

The Bucs recorded a 9-1 mark last season in conference play en route to the A-Sun Championship title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after defeating 35th ranked Alabama, 4-2. ETSU fell to the national runner-up, Tennessee, by the score of 4-1.

Stetson, the A-Sun Championship runner-up, took the penultimate spot in the coaches poll ahead of UNF and USC Upstate. The Hatters’ Cesare Gallo and Maksim Levanovich and the Ospreys’ Daniel Sotomarino return for their squads after picking up All-Tournament honors last season. The Spartans completed the 2010 season with a 10-0 record in conference play, but could not participate in postseason play due to NCAA Reclassification.

Campbell and Jacksonville appeared in fifth and sixth place in the coaches’ poll. Last year, the two teams squared off in the A-Sun Championship First Round with the Fighting Camels advancing by a 4-1 advantage.

Mercer and Belmont took the next two spots in the poll and look to return to the A-Sun Championship after missing out last season. The two teams faced one another in the 2008 championship with the Bruins sweeping the Bears, 4-0. FGCU, Kennesaw State and Lipscomb rounded out the remainder of the coaches poll.

The Atlantic Sun Men’s Tennis Championship hosted by Stetson University takes place from April 14-16, 2011 in DeLand, Fla. at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center.

Preseason Singles Player of the Year: Sander Giller, ETSU

Preseason Doubles Team of the Year: Sander Gille / Jesus Bandres, ETSU

Preseason Atlantic Sun Conference Coaches Poll
1. ETSU
2. Stetson
3. UNF
4. USC Upstate
5. Campbell
6. Jacksonville
7. Mercer
8. Belmont
9. FGCU
10. Kennesaw State
11. Lipscomb

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