Feb. 26, 2010
Center Valley, Pa. – The United States Naval Academy has been chosen to defend its 2009 Patriot League Tennis Championship, as determined by voting performed by the League’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The Midshipmen received 69 points and garnered nine of the 14 first-place votes. 2009 Patriot League Coach of the Year John Officer is back for his 25th season in Annapolis, and he leads a roster of Midshipmen that boasts two seniors and five juniors. Last year, the Mids finished 18-8 with a Patriot League Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Some fresh faces will have to step into leadership roles for Navy, as three First-Team All-Patriot League selections graduated after last season. One of those seniors expected to step in will be Ramsey Lemaich, who was an All-Patriot League selection on the Second-Team in 2009.
Army, who finished as runner-up to Navy last year, was voted second in the poll. The Black Knights picked up 60 points and four first-place votes. 2009 Rookie of the Year Donald Van Velzer returns at West Point for head coach Jim Poling, now in his eighth season for the Black Knights.
Colgate garnered 48 points and one first-place vote, putting the Raiders in third. Six letterwinners return for Bobby Pennington, who is in his fourth season at the helm in Hamilton. The Raiders hope for bigger things in 2010 after being ousted in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament last year.
Bucknell came in fourth in the balloting with 42 points. The Bison feature only one senior on their roster, but they are buoyed by junior Mark Malloy, a Second-Team All-Patriot League selection in 2009. Bucknell finished 2-3 in the League last season.
Lehigh received 39 points for fifth place. A key returner for the Mountain Hawks is junior Troy List, who was First-Team All-Patriot League last year.
Lafayette finished sixth in the voting with 22 points, followed by Holy Cross in seventh with 14.
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The 2010 Patriot League Championship is scheduled for Friday-Sunday, April 23-25 from Bucknell’s Varsity Tennis Courts in Lewisburg, Pa.
2010 Patriot League Men’s Tennis Preseason Poll
1. Navy – 69 (9 first-place votes)
2. Army – 60 (4)
3. Colgate – 48 (1)
4. Bucknell – 42
5. Lehigh – 39
6. Lafayette – 22
7. Holy Cross – 14
