Thursday, February 02, 2006
Contact: Chris Kilcoyne

Washington and Lee Sweeps 2006 ODAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Preseason Polls

SALEM, VA – Washington and Lee swept both the Men’s and Women’s 2006 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tennis Preseason Polls the league announced on Thursday.

 

On the men’s side, W&L earned 100 points and all 10 first-place votes to take the top spot.  2005 ODAC Coach-of-the-Year David Detwiler returns David Shay, Jordan Eichenberger and Charles Anderson who captured the No. 2, No. 5 and No. 6 singles flights, respectively at last year’s ODAC Tournament.

 

The Generals, who have captured 10 consecutive league titles, finished last season 16-6 overall record and 7-0 in the ODAC.  W&L advanced to the NCAA Tournament defeating Carnegie Mellon before being knocked out by Emory.

 

Roanoke earned the second slot in the poll by garnering 79 points.  The Maroons return 2005 ODAC Freshman-of-the-Year Kyle Allen, who Shay upended in the finals of the No. 2 flight at the ODAC Championships a season ago.  RC finished last season 8-6 overall and 6-1 in the league

Following RC in the third spot in the poll is Guilford with 72 points followed by Hampden-Sydney (62 points), Virginia Wesleyan (49 points), Lynchburg (41 points), Bridgewater (40 points), Emory and Henry (25 points) Eastern Mennonite (22 points) and Randolph-Macon (15 points).

 

On the heels of a National Runner-Up season in 2005, Cinda Rankin’s W&L squad takes the top spot in the women’s poll with 121 points and all 11 first-place votes.  The Generals went 22-1 last season with a 10-0 mark in the ODAC.  The lone blemish on the Generals record came in the National Championship where they fell to Emory 5-3.

 

Rankin returns five ODAC singles champions from a season ago.  Kristen McClung (No. 2), Emily Applegate (No. 3), Ginny Wortman (No. 4), Leah Weston (No. 5) and Katie Kingsbury (No. 6).

 

Emory and Henry finds itself second in the poll with a total of 93 points.  The Wasps are followed by Hollins (85 points), Randolph-Macon (80 points), Bridgewater (67 points), Roanoke (55 points), Virginia Wesleyan (46 points), Guilford (33 points), Lynchburg (29 points), Sweet Briar (29 points) and Randolph-Macon Woman’s (19 points).

2006 ODAC Men’s Tennis Preseason Poll

 

Place     Team                             Points

1.             Washington and Lee 100 (10)
2.             Roanoke                        79

3.             Guilford                           72

4.             Hampden-Sydney       62

5.             Virginia Wesleyan       49

6.             Lynchburg                      41

7.             Bridgewater                   40

8.             Emory and Henry         25

9.             Eastern Mennonite      22

10.          Randolph-Macon         15

 

2006 ODAC Women’s Tennis Preseason Poll

 

Place     Team                                         Points

1.             Washington and Lee              121 (11)

2.             Emory and Henry                     93

3.             Hollins                                       85
4.             Randolph-Macon                     80

5.             Bridgewater                               67

6.             Roanoke                                    55

7.             Virginia Wesleyan                   46

8.             Guilford                                       33

9.             Lynchburg                                  29

                Sweet Briar                               29

11.          Randolph-Macon Woman’s  19