College Tennis News – Guilford Ranked in Preseason ODAC Polls

FOREST, Va. – Guilford College’s men’s and women’s tennis teams were ranked second and 12th, respectively, in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) preseason coaches’ polls released Thursday.

Guilford’s men collected 84 points for a second-place ranking. Eight-time defending league champion Washington and Lee University topped the survey with 10 first-place votes and 100 points. Hampden-Sydney College rounded out the top three with 81 points and earned a lone first-place vote.

The Quakers finished the 2016-17 season with a 12-6 overall record, 8-2 in the ODAC, and made a run to the conference championship. Guilford is 1-0 this year after a win over NAIA-opponent Montreat College in the fall. The team returns six students from last year’s squad, including sophomore captain Tate Godwin, and senior Graham Pearson. Godwin was a first-team All-ODAC selection in singles, a second-team All-ODAC pick in doubles, and earned ODAC Rookie of the Year laurels. He posted a 10-11 record at first singles and a 12-10 mark at first doubles. Pearson posted a 7-4 record at third singles and a 12-9 mark at second doubles.

Fifteen-time defending champion Washington and Lee secured the top spot in the women’s preseason poll with 11 first-place votes and 121 points. Bridgewater College placed second with 104 points, followed by Randolph-Macon College in third with 90 points and a lone first-place vote. Guilford collected 23 points for 12th place.

The Quakers’ women finished 1-14 overall and 0-11 in the ODAC last season. Two key returners this year include junior Brooklyn Hopkins and Makayla McLaurin. Hopkins posted a 1-7 record in singles and went 2-9 in doubles. McLaurin was 3-9 and 3-10.

Head coach Dave McCain’s women’s team opens up at Salem College on February 16th. The men open the following weekend at home against league-rival Lynchburg College.

2018 ODAC Men’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Washington and Lee (10) — 100 pts.
2. Guilford — 84 pts.
3. Hampden-Sydney (1) — 81 pts.
4. Bridgewater — 73 pts.
5. Virginia Wesleyan — 59 pts.
6. Lynchburg — 52 pts.
7. Randolph-Macon — 51 pts.
8. Randolph — 38 pts.
9. Roanoke — 29 pts.
10. Shenandoah — 23 pts.
11. Emory & Henry — 15 pts.

2018 ODAC Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Washington and Lee (11) — 121 pts.
2. Bridgewater — 104 pts.
3. Randolph-Macon (1) — 100 pts.
4. Randolph — 85 pts.
5. Roanoke — 82 pts.
6. Lynchburg — 79 pts.
7. Emory & Henry — 52 pts.
8. Virginia Wesleyan — 44 pts.
9. Shenandoah — 40 pts.
10. Hollins — 33 pts.
11. Sweet Briar — 29 pts.
12. Guilford — 23 pts.