Suffolk Captures Top Rank in Pre-season Poll
Suffolk University, the 2011 GNAC Champion, has been selected as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Men's Tennis preseason favorite in a vote conducted by GNAC coaches.
- Suffolk University (20)
The reigning 2011 GNAC Champions, Suffolk University will look to earning their fourth straight GNAC Championship in 2012. Last season they posted an overall record of 12-1, while earning an undefeated conference record of 6-0. Returning for the Rams is 2011 GNAC Player of the Year, senior Sean Cullen (Medway, Mass.). In his first season with Suffolk, Cullen posted a 4-3 record in singles play, while also compiling a 7-1 record in doubles action alongside his partner senior partner Chris Staley (London, England), who were honored as the GNAC top doubles team in 2011. Along with his doubles award, Staley also earned recognition as a first team All-Conference selection in singles play, where he posted a 7-1 overall record primarily playing in the second singles spot for the Rams.
Also returning is sophomore Hubert Cromback (Paris, France) who was named GNAC Rookie of the Year and to the first team all-conference as he posted a perfect 10-0 record in singles play. Cromback posted 4-0 records in the number two position and number four position in singles play, and was also 9-1 in doubles play.
The Rams will also look to junior Harlan Strader (Marblehead, Mass.), who earned first team all-conference honors in 2011. Strader posted a 9-1 record in singles play and also earned eight more wins in doubles play on the year.
The Rams begin their season on Saturday, March 24th at 1:00pm against GNAC rival Emerson College.
2. Emerson College (15)
Coming in second in the Coaches’ preseason poll is Emerson who finished the 2011 season with an overall record of 4-9 and 3-1 in GNAC play. Emerson earned their way to the GNAC championship last season, but lost to the Suffolk Rams. The Lions return junior Mitch Lance '13 (Tarrytown, N.Y.) who played well last season, winning two of three doubles matches in last year’s GNAC championship.
The Lions begin their season on Saturday, March 17th 1:00pm at Clark University (Mass.).
3. Norwich (12)
The Norwich men's tennis team enters the 2012 season with perhaps its strongest squad in the six-year tenure of head coach Kyle Dezotell. Returning for the 2012 season, is senior Collin Hyte who received the honor of First Team all-conference for singles play in 2011. He went 9-1 as the #1 singles player for the Cadets, earning a 3-1 in conference record. Sophomore Christian Hoskey will be a key contributer to the Cadets this season. A 2011 First Team all-conference honoree, Hoskey established himself as a top player in the GNAC in his rookie season, after earning an 8-1 record overall and 2-1 in conference.
Norwich opened up its 2012 campaign with a convincing 8-1 win over Castleton State this past Saturday. The Cadets lost both matches last year to Castleton. NU returns to action on Wednesday, March 21 when it hosts Lyndon State at 4 p.m.
4. Johnson & Wales (9)
Johnson & Wales took a fourth place finish in the poll after posting a 2-10 overall record and 1-3 in GNAC competition in 2011. The Wildcats will look to junior Drew Pontillo, who earned 2nd team all-conference last season, to lead their 2012 campaign. Pontillo posted a 5-5 overall record at No. 4 singles, including a 2-2 mark in league play.
The Wildcats will begin their season on March 20th vs. Bridgewater State University at 3:30pm.