FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s tennis team was selected fifth in the 2020 Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Men’s Tennis Preseason Poll, the league announced today (Feb. 6).
Christopher Newport edged Mary Washington for the top spot in the 2020 CAC Men’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Captains received three first-place votes and 22 points, while the two-time defending champion Eagles received 20 points and two first-place votes atop the preseason rankings. UMW defeated CNU by a 5-0 decision in last year’s conference championship match as the Eagles captured their 23rd league title.
Southern Virginia and Salisbury finished tied-for-third in the voting with 17 points with the Knights receiving the final first-place vote. York and St. Mary’s College both tied-for-fifth place with seven points to round out the poll.
The St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s tennis team is looking to build off of their 5-12 2018-19 campaign and a 3-0 start in their Fall season. The Seahawks return five starters and eight total student-athletes from last season. The Seahawks round out their roster with two newcomers in Stephen Alam and Liam Pratt. Alam played at the No. 1 and No. 3 singles spot for the Seahawks in the Fall.
The Seahawk men’s tennis team will open up their Spring season on Feb. 22 when they travel to Randolph-Macon for a 1:00 p.m. match. In March, St. Mary’s College will travel to the warmth of Hilton Head, South Carolina to compete in the PTR Spring Tennis Fest from Mar. 15-20. Next, the Seahawks will begin CAC play when they travel to Southern Virginia on Mar. 27 for a 12:00 p.m. match. Additionally, the Seahawks will host Christopher Newport on Apr. 18 at 12:00 p.m. for Spring Break-a-Sweat.
The CAC Tournament will begin April 24, with the championship match slated for Saturday, May 2.
2020 CAC Men’s Tennis Preseason Poll
| Rank | Institution | Points (First-Place Votes) |
| 1. | Christopher Newport | 22 (3) |
| 2. | Mary Washington | 20 (2) |
| T3. | Southern Virginia | 17 (1) |
| T3. | Salisbury | 17 |
| T5. | York | 7 |
| T5. | St. Mary’s | 7 |
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