2022 SAC preseason release

ROCK HILL, S.C. – With just over a week before the 2022 season serves off, Carson-Newman men's tennis was projected sixth in the South Atlantic Conference preseason poll, as announced by the conference office Friday.

After wrapping up the spring 2021 season, Carson-Newman finished 7-11 overall, which matches the highest win total since the 2016-17 season when they finished 7-10 with a 5-6 in SAC play. Most notably, the Eagles secured a spot in the 2021 SAC Tennis Championships for the first time in over 11 years, as they made the quarterfinals before losing to Queens (N.C.).

"We are continuing to build this program and I think we have a strong chance to make the SAC Tournament again this year," graduate assistant Gabriel Dabdab said. "The fact that we are able to go together with the women's team last season shows how much Carson-Newman tennis is growing and will continue to be a force in the conference."

Finishing with 90 votes, C-N moves up a couple spots from last year's preseason poll as the Eagles moved from eighth to sixth this season. The Eagles went on to finish seventh in the SAC in 2021 with a 5-6 record overall, respectively. 

Three schools earned first-place votes in the preseason poll with Wingate selected first, racking up 10 first-place votes and a total of 145 points. The Bulldogs ended the 2020-21 season as the lone undefeated team, going 10-0 in SAC play and finishing 13-3 overall. Queens checks in at second place with two first-place nominations and a total of 143 points. For their 2020-21 season, the Royals finished 11-1 in conference play, while compiling an overall mark of 14-4.

The only other school to receive a first place vote is Anderson, receiving a single vote while projected fourth with a total of 122 points. Tusculum (third) and Lenoir-Rhyne round out the preseason top-five for men's tennis.

"The freshmen we have joining our program this year have proved to be great additions along with our returners who know what we expect," head coach Jim Frederick said. "This team has the chance to not only be special, but could easily make some noise come time for SAC play."

The Eagles serve up their 2021 season on Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. against Union (Ky.) at the Knoxville Racquet Club.

2022 SAC Men's Tennis Preseason Poll