JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's doubles duo of Paul Birdsong and Derek Holdway has landed on the preseason all-SAC men's tennis team.

 Senior Paul Birdsong (Woodstock, Ga.) ended the 2012 season, 9-3 overall and 4-2 in the SAC in the singles division. Alongside a former teammate, Birdsong finished 4-9 for the season and 2-5 in the SAC in the men's doubles. 

Senior Derek Holdway (Woodstock, Ga.) ended his season 8-10 and 3-6 in the SAC for the singles play. With teammate Austin Mackay, Holdway finished the doubles division 6-6 for the season and 4-4 in the SAC. 

"Paul and Derek will see plenty of action and are expected to provide leadership," Love said. 

"Veteran players Paul Birdsong, Derek Holdway, Garret Duron, Austin Mackay, Dalton Moore, and Daniel Douglas need to have a solid season for the Eagles to bounce back from a subpar 2012," Love said. 

 As a team, Carson-Newman was picked eighth in the preseason coaches poll just ahead of Brevard and Lenior-Rhyne. Each team finished in the same positions in last season's SAC standings. 

 Head coach Jean Love has a different outlook for this season and believes her team will progress farther in the polls. 

"This means that we have got some work to do to be competitive and earn some respect in the SAC," Love said. "I do believe we have the players to outperform the preseason prediction as long as we stay away from injury."

The Eagles will play their first tournament of the 2013 season at Lenior-Rhyne of February 17. 

-CN-

 2013 SAC Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll

 Team Points (1^st-place)

1. Wingate 79 (7)

2. Anderson 75 (3)

3. Lincoln Memorial 64

4. Newberry 49

    Tusculum 49

6. Catawba 40

7. Mars Hill 33

8. Carson-Newman 30

9. Brevard 20

10. Lenoir-Rhyne 10