BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southeastern Conference coaches preseason poll voted the 29th-ranked LSU men’s tennis team second in the SEC West, the league office announced on Friday.
LSU returns six players from last season. In 2009, the Tigers posted an 11-12 record and earned a final bid of No. 28 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Rankings. LSU hosted the NCAA Regionals and advanced to the second round of NCAA competition.
Tenth-ranked Ole Miss was selected as the preseason SEC Western Division Champion. The Rebels earned an 11-0 record in 2009 and captured the overall SEC Championship and SEC Tournament title.
Ranked behind LSU in the Western Division were Auburn, Mississippi State, Alabama and Arkansas.
Preseason overall and Eastern Division Champion went to fifth-ranked Tennessee. Tennessee earned 23-7 mark last season and reached the NCAA round of 16.
The poll is voted on by the SEC coaches and is based on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 count.
The Tigers kick off dual competition at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Tallahassee, Fla. against Louisville on Jan. 29. LSU’s first conference matchup is slated for March 5 against South Carolina at home in W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium.
2010 Men’s Tennis Coaches Preseason Poll
Released by the SEC
Eastern Division
1. Tennessee 69
T2 Florida 55
T2 Georgia 55
4. Kentucky 37
5. Vanderbilt 21
6. South Carolina 15
Western Division
1. Ole Miss 68
2. LSU 50
3. Auburn 40
4. Mississippi State 39
5. Alabama 38
6. Arkansas 17