Posted: Feb 08, 2013
The Generals claimed their third straight ODAC title in 2012, bringing the program's total to a conference record 31 championships. W&L turned its 5-0 win over Bridgewater into a two-match trip to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. The 20th-ranked Generals opened with a 5-3 triumph over the University of Texas-Tyler, but W&L fell in round two to #2 Emory, 5-0.
Washington and Lee (16-5 overall, 9-0 in ODAC play in 2012), ranked 20th in the country and fifth in the Atlantic South Region in the spring preseason rankings by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), returns three all-conference players that each earned singles and doubles honors. Hayden White, the 2012 ODAC Co-Player of the Year and ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year, finished as the singles runner-up at the fall USTA/ITA Regionals at the University of Mary Washington. He is currently rated 12th in the country and third in the region. He posted a 9-4 overall mark and 5-0 conference record at #1 singles last spring, and was joined on the All-ODAC First Team by his doubles partner, Taylor Shamshiri. The duo went 11-6 together, including 5-1 in league play. Shamshiri went 11-4 and 6-0 to earn first team honors at #2 singles. He and newcomer Michael Holt paired together in fall play and enter the spring season rated ninth in the region's doubles rankings. Christopher Hu had a strong first season in Lexington, posting records of 8-2 and 6-0 to earn a first team spot at #5 singles. He and since graduated partner Jeremy Becht went 10-1 and 5-0 to earn first team accolades at #3 doubles. Hu and White are doubles teammates this season, entering the spring #15 in the region.
Bridgewater (13-6, 8-1) returns six athletes that earned All-ODAC honors in 2012. Evan Stack (13-2, 7-1), Christian Lynn (9-7, 7-1) and Sam Churchill (9-7, 7-1) were All-ODAC Second Team choices at #4, #5 and #6 singles, respectively. Stack and partner Brandon Larsen went 9-7 and 5-2 to earn second team recognition at #1 doubles. Mike Cable and graduated teammate Brent Floyd went 14-5 and 8-1 together for a #3 doubles second team showing. Peter Hawkins (9-7, 6-3) and Larsen (9-5, 6-2) earned All-ODAC Third Team honors at #1 and #2 singles, while Hawkins and Lynn (10-9, 7-2) teamed up to earn a third team spot at #2 doubles.
Guilford (11-8, 7-2) must replace two of its top three singles players from its semifinal squad in 2012. Turner Votipka is back after a 10-6 and 7-2 performance that earned him first team laurels at #2 singles. Mark Cheong (7-6, 6-3 at #4-5 singles) and Ben Nelson (6-6, 6-3 at #5-6 singles) teamed up to post a 4-4 record at #3 doubles last year. Both will be looked to for added production, as will Trevor Cox (8-10 singles in 2011), who returns to the squad following a year away.
Emory & Henry College (15-7, 6-3) is led by the return top singles players and doubles tandem Adam Henderson (14-2, 7-2 at #1 and #3 singles) and Matt Nelson (9-6, 4-4 at #1 singles), who combined for records of 16-2 and 9-0 to earn first team honors at #1 doubles. Zach Eccher (5-7, 3-4 at #4-6 singles) and Webster Gilley (7-7, 3-4 at #3-5 singles) will help E&H's charge towards the top, as will new Wasps James Keighley and Alex Minasyan.
Virginia Wesleyan College (9-11, 2-7) features an influx of 10 first year players on its roster as only Donnie Greathouse (9-6, 2-4 at #3-5 singles) and Griffin Graves (5-7, 1-3 at #3-6 singles) return to the VWC courts from 2012. The doubles pairing of Adam Owen and Drew Tomajczyk made it to the semifinals of the B3 doubles flight at the USTA/ITA Regionals, while Graham Wilson made a strong showing in the championship singles flight.
Both Hampden-Sydney College (5-8, 4-5) and Randolph-Macon College (8-8, 5-4) must replace the production of former all-conference players. Zach King leads the Tigers following 6-6 and 5-4 showings at #2 singles in 2012. He's joined by Houghton Flanagan, who went 4-7 and 4-4 between #4-6 singles. The Yellow Jackets, under new head coach Bruce Myers, feature third team #6 singles player Jody Cox (7-4, 4-2 in singles), but must also replace 2012 ODAC Co-Player and Rookie of the Year, Mederick Ceril. Connor Hoerr (7-9, 4-5 at #2-3 singles) and Ira Usry (9-7, 6-3 at #3-4 singles) will help in that effort.
Roanoke College (4-12, 3-6) and ODAC newcomer Shenandoah University (0-13, 0-6 in the USA South) look to climb the conference ladder, as do Randolph College (4-12, 1-8) and Lynchburg College (3-14, 0-9). The Maroons will look to returners James Lee (4-10, 2-6 at #1 singles), Ian Webster (7-3, 6-2 at #5-6 singles) and Chris Migliarese (4-11, 3-6 at #3-4 singles) to lead the way. SU enjoys the return of 2010 and 2011 All-USA South Honorable Mention player Michael Milanov after a year away from the program. He's joined 2012 #1 singles player Dustan DeMello. The WildCats welcome back their top three singles players from 2012 in Daniil Lyalko (2-10, 0-7 at #1 singles), Jason Corsbie (3-12, 1-8 at #2-3 singles) and Shaun Chopp (3-10, 0-8 at #3-4 singles). Lynchburg, under interim head coach Nasim Moadab, looks to their top two players from last season in Matt Karvelas (5-10, 1-8 at #1 singles) and Derek Kegerreis (5-6, 3-3 at #2 singles).
Listed below is the full 2013 ODAC Men's Tennis Preseason Poll. For more information on ODAC men's tennis, visit any of the participating school's websites, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook. You can also follow the ODAC on Twitter @odacathletics.
2013 ODAC MEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes
| 1. Washington and Lee (10) | 100 pts. |
| 2. Bridgewater (1) | 86 pts. |
| 3. Guilford | 75 pts. |
| 4. Emory & Henry | 69 pts. |
| 4. Virginia Wesleyan | 69 pts. |
| 6. Hampden-Sydney | 53 pts. |
| 7. Randolph-Macon | 45 pts. |
| 8. Roanoke | 43 pts. |
| 9. Shenandoah | 25 pts. |
| 10. Randolph | 23 pts. |
| 11. Lynchburg | 17 pts. |
