Official OVC Release | Preseason Player Rankings

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Eastern Kentucky’s women and Tennessee Tech’s men are predicted to win their respective 2013 Ohio Valley Conference tennis titles in a poll released today by the league’s head coaches. The Colonels took 100 points while the Golden Eagles earned 76 points.

UT Martin’s women grabbed second place with 89 points followed by Austin Peay with 79 points. Murray State (66), Eastern Illinois (58), Jacksonville State (50), Morehead State (48), Belmont (40), Southeast Missouri (34), SIUE (31) and Tennessee State (11) complete the women’s poll.

On the men’s side, Austin Peay received 70 points for a predicted second-place finish while Eastern Kentucky follows in third with 66 points. Rounding out the men’s poll are OVC newcomer Belmont (62), Jacksonville State (48), Morehead State (34), Murray State (30), SIUE (29), Eastern Illinois (26) and Tennessee State (9).

The Eastern Kentucky women won their second OVC regular season and tourney title last year after going a perfect 9-0 in league action. It was the second time the Colonels won both crowns in the same year. EKU had three players named to the preseason top-10 list. The 2012 OVC Freshman of the Year Amandine Faouzi earned the No. 1 spot while sophomore Melissa Gerritsen was No. 3 followed by Kristina Labeja at No. 6.

The Tennessee Tech men captured their ninth OVC regular season crown last season and its first since 2008. The Golden Eagles posted a perfect 8-0 record in league play last year, but fell to EKU in the OVC tournament championship match.

The 2013 OVC tennis championships will be held April 19-21 in Paducah, Ky.

2013 OVC Women’s Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league's head coaches)

1. Eastern Kentucky (10 first-place votes) - 100
2. UT Martin (1 first-place votes) - 89
3. Austin Peay - 79
4. Murray State - 66
5. Eastern Illinois - 58
6. Jacksonville State - 50
7. Morehead State - 48
8. Belmont - 40
9. Southeast Missouri - 34
10. SIUE - 31
11. Tennessee State – 11

2013 OVC Men’s Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league's head coaches)

1. Tennessee Tech (5 first-place votes) - 76
2. Austin Peay (2 first-place votes) - 70
3. Eastern Kentucky (1 first-place vote) - 66
4. Belmont - 62
5. Jacksonville State - 48
6. Morehead State - 34
7. Murray State - 30
8. SIUE - 29
9. Eastern Illinois - 26
10. Tennessee State – 9