ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum College men's tennis team has been picked to finish fifth in the South Atlantic Conference according to the 2011 SAC Coaches' Poll announced league officials Thursday.
Four Pioneers were also named to the Preseason All-Conference Team, which is selected by the league's sports information directors. Steven Lin and Luis Zamora were selected to the All-SAC First Team, while Oliver Smith and Drew Kiser garnered Second Team recognition.
Conference newcomers Anderson University is the preseason favorite to the win the championship. The Trojans garnered five first place votes and 90 total points. Wingate University is second with 87 points and two first place nods, while Lincoln Memorial University is third with 81 points and two first place votes. Brevard College is fourth with a first place vote and 56 points, while Tusculum and Mars Hill College are tied for fifth with 52 points each. Catawba College is seventh with 47 points, followed by Carson-Newman College (46), Lenoir-Rhyne University (21) and Newberry College (18).
Lin, a 5-11, 155-pound junior from Ping Dong, Taiwan, earned a spot on the First Team after posting a 14-5 singles record last year, including 6-2 in league play. The two-time All-SAC Second Team selection went 13-6 in doubles, including 12-6 at the No. 2 flight. The Heritage Academy (S.C.) graduate is also a Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar Athlete and a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll. In his two seasons at Tusculum, Lin has posted a 29-9 singles record, including 12-4 in SAC contests.
Zamora, a 6-2, 180-pound sophomore from Santiago, Chile, moves up to the First Team after garnering All-SAC Second Team accolades following his rookie campaign. He appeared in all 19 matches, where he played in the top two flights in singles and doubles. He posted a 9-10 singles record, including 4-1 at the top flight. The 2010 ITA Scholar Athlete went 4-4 in SAC singles play and tallied an 11-7 worksheet in doubles, including 4-4 in the conference.
Smith, a 5-11, 160-pound senior from Winchester, Hampshire, England, went 11-6 in singles in his first season with the Pioneers. He posted a 5-3 mark in SAC play, mostly at the fourth flight. The Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College transfer, posted a 5-3 record in SAC singles and doubles play and is a member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Kiser, a 6-2, 165-pound junior from Bristol, Tenn., rounds out the honorees for Tusculum on the All-SAC Team. The Tennessee High School graduate posted a 13-5 singles record last season, including 12-4 at the fifth flight. He went 5-3 in singles and doubles competition and enters this spring with a 27-10 career singles record (11-5 in SAC matches).
Tusculum (1-1, 0-0 SAC) opens the spring portion of its schedule on Feb. 12 as the Pioneers face Lander University for a 1 p.m. regional match in Greenwood, S.C.
- SAC -
2011 SAC Men's Tennis Coaches' Poll
Rk. School (1st Place Votes) Pts.
1 Anderson (5) 90
2 Wingate (2) 87
3 Lincoln Memorial (2) 81
4 Brevard (1) 56
5 TUSCULUM 52
Mars Hill 52
7 Catawba 47
8 Carson-Newman 46
9 Lenoir-Rhyne 21
10 Newberry 18
2011 Preseason All-SAC Men's Tennis Team
First Team
Scott McCormick, Brevard
Trent Slagle, Carson-Newman
Philipp Hoffmann, Lincoln Memorial
Steven Lin, Tusculum
Luis Zamora, Tusculum
Matt Lichtenstein, Wingate
Braeden Patchell, Wingate
Flavio Rathsam, Wingate
Second Team
Stan Atema, Anderson
Cole Altizer, Brevard
Shane Apps, Brevard
Tom Goosens, Lincoln Memorial
Lucas Simm, Mars Hill
Drew Kiser, Tusculum
Oliver Smith, Tusculum
Drew Owen, Wingate
