UMAC men's tennis coaches pick St. Scholastica to win again in 2011
2011 UMAC Men’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. 25 Points - College of St. Scholastica (5 First Place Votes)
2. 21 Points - Northwestern College (1)
3. 16 Points - Martin Luther College
4. 14 Points - University of Minnesota, Morris
5. 8 Points - Bethany Lutheran College
6. 6 Points - North Central University
ST. PAUL -- The College of St. Scholastica, who is the only team to claim a UMAC regular season championship since the conference instituted men’s tennis in 1997, was predicted to once again take the league title according to a poll of the league’s coaches. The Saints, who have 14 UMAC championships to their name, were the unanimous favorite, earning everyone’s top pick.
1. College of St. Scholastica Saints
2010 Overall Record: 11-10
2010 UMAC Record: 10-0
2010 UMAC Finish: 1st
Starters Returning: 5
Starters Lost: 3
St. Scholastica head coach Wells Patten is really excited about his men’s squad for the 2011 season. Patten has quality experience coming back, paired with some talented newcomers. Coach Patten believes this is the best men’s group that he has had in recent years with the Saints.
Leading the group of returners is Jacob Engelstad, who set a program record last season with 18 singles victories. Brendan Anderson, a quality doubles player who has been named to the All-UMAC team in each of the past two seasons, also returns. Tucker Combs will be teaming with his younger brother, freshman Cullen Combs, in doubles action this season. Last season, Tucker teamed with Engelstad and recorded the fourth-most wins in a season in program history with 13. Other returners to watch for this season are juniors Brian Lindberg and Kevin Hilpert. Both have been named to the ALL-UMAC in their first two seasons.
In addition to the returnees, Patten has brought in a talented recruiting class. Dylan Kelly and Erik Conley are just some of the names to watch. Kelly was an all-city selection in the Twin Cities and Conley, who played in high school tennis in North Carolina, was a three-time regional qualifier.
2. Northwestern College Eagles
2010 Overall Record: 10-14
2010 UMAC Record: 8-2
2010 UMAC Finish: 2nd
Starters Returning: 5
Starters Lost: 3
Northwestern College, who earned 21 points in the preseason poll for second place, is vastly improved from a year ago, having lost only one starter while welcoming some very promising talent for the upcoming season. 2010 UMAC Player of the Year Caleb Kauss returns to the court after going 13-12 overall and 8-1 in conference action last year, having played all but one match at No. 1 singles. While Jeremiah Schneck’s talents at No. 2 singles will be missed after the senior graduated, the Eagles are excited about David Knight, who will assume Schneck’s position. Knight, a freshman from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was the 2010 Iowa state high school champion.
UMAC All-Conference player Keagen Blancke returns to the No. 3 singles spot after going 6-2 in league play last year. Another newcomer in transfer Josh Nelson will fill the No. 4 singles role while veteran Josh Fread fills in at No. 5 singles. Fread finished with an 8-2 league record last season, going 12-14 overall.
3. Martin Luther College Knights
2010 Overall Record: 7-6
2010 UMAC Record: 6-4
2010 UMAC Finish: 3rd
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 2
Third place Martin Luther College returns five of its six most experienced singles players from the 2010 season and hopes to build on a 7-6 record and third place finish in the UMAC with all that experience returning. Scott Henrich received All-UMAC honors as a freshman last season, finishing with a singles record of 8-6 overall, and a 6-4 record in conference play in the No. 1 spot. Teammate Paul Koester also returns for his second season after finishing with a 6-9 singles record a year ago, mostly in the number three spot, and will likely replace departed Dave Zuberbier in the No. 2 singles position. Ryan Obry and Phil Hunter bring more experience to Martin Luther’s roster, as both finished with at least six singles wins a year ago in the back half of the line-up.
4. University of Minnesota, Morris Cougars
2010 Overall Record: 4-8
2010 UMAC Record: 4-6
2010 UMAC Finish: 4th
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 1
After posting its best mark in UMAC action in five years, the University of Minnesota, Morris men’s tennis team will look to its four returning starters in 2011. Dan Fragodt leads the way after an All-UMAC junior season where he went 10-2 in singles matches, and closed his season in the championship match of the UMAC Tournament. Twice last season, the Cougars posted perfect 6-0 singles marks in duals, and with their strong crop of returners will look for similar results this spring. Minnesota, Morris must replace All-UMAC performer Geoff Giraud who went 5-7, but ready to step up is senior Chris Droske after a 6-4 junior season. Morris took fourth place in the poll with 14 points.
5. Bethany Lutheran College Vikings
2010 Overall Record: 1-11
2010 UMAC Record: 1-9
2010 UMAC Finish: 5th
Starters Returning: 5
Starters Lost: 1
Bethany Lutheran is ready for action again with a young team. The Vikings’ top player from the 2010 season, David Blumer, is studying abroad in New Zealand this semester and won’t be able to join the squad. Felipe Ortega, Bethany Lutheran’s lone senior in 2011, will be anchoring the team, having won four of his matches last year. Head coach Adie Harstad hopes that the newly recruited dual sport student-athletes will inject some life in the team. Ortega and returner Randy Zavala both played on the soccer team, along with freshman Eric DeBruzzi. Benjamin Schroeder will be joining the team for the first year..
6. North Central University Rams
2010 Overall Record: 1-12
2010 UMAC Record: 1-9
2010 UMAC Finish: 6th
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 2
A majority of North Central University’s team from 2010 will return in 2011. Two of the team’s core players from a year ago graduated, but each one of the returning players has really stepped up in leadership and their own excitement for the game. They are also being challenged by new players which will benefit everyone on the team. Four new players will be in the Rams’ top six which changes the team dynamic but should raise the team’s level of competition. Josiah Tonder played 11 matches in the No. 1 singles position last year and will most likely return to the top of North Central’s lineup again in 2011. Mike Svoboda is also someone who will be in the top half of the Rams’ roster after playing in the No. 3 singles spot most of last season. Newcomer Tyler McIver will help North Central right off the bat.
Each of the teams will kick off their seasons indoors and in warmer-weather states before beginning conference play the last week of March. Following each institution’s 10 scheduled league matches, all six teams will gather on May 6-7 at the Baseline Tennis Center on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis where individual and team champions will be crowned at the UMAC Tournament.