St. Scholastica tops 2019 Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Last spring, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) saw more drama in men's tennis than ever before as the University of Northwestern upset favorite College of St. Scholastica in the postseason championship match to earn the conference's first ever automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA postseason. This year could best just as exciting, but the prediction for the season is just the same as St. Scholastica took the top spot in 2019 UMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Tuesday.
The Saints unanimously topped the field with 49 points and seven first place votes, while the Eagles were second with 42 points and one first place vote. With eight teams back again for the second-straight season, the race for the playoffs will be more thrilling than ever before as the Saints will look for revenge and their first NCAA trip after missing out last season.
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Poll |
Team Previews |
2019 Schedule |
The Saints' loss to the Eagles was the first dual loss to a UMAC opponent since 1997 for the storied program. With the return of several key players, the Saints will look to start a new streak beginning in February. Back-to-back UMAC Player of the Year Serhii Tykhonenko returns to lead the pack following his 14-7 singles season at the top spot in 2018. Sophomores Elliot Schneider and Jack Kearney will join Tykhonenko following All-UMAC rookie seasons.
Northwestern lost standout All-UMAC players at the top of the lineup but should reload with returning All-UMAC selection Landon Ridpath back for what should be an outstanding senior campaign. Davis Pfaff joins Ridpath after going 12-1 in the UMAC combined for singles and doubles as a rookie.
The University of Wisconsin-Superior tallied 38 points for third after finishing in the same position in its first season of varsity tennis. All-UMAC pick Josiah Borst will lock down the top of the lineup and help the Yellowjackets' attempt to stave off Bethany Lutheran College and Martin Luther College.
Bethany Lutheran and Martin Luther tied for fourth with 27 points each. The Vikings will battle the Knights for a postseason spot behind All-UMAC seniors Laine Larson and Dalton Werckman, while the Knights will rely on veteran Josh Koelpin.
The University of Minnesota Morris took sixth in the poll with 19 points and returns three experienced veterans led by Franklin Real. Crown College was tabbed seventh with 12 points, while North Central University rounds out the poll with 10 points in eighth.
The UMAC season opens up Friday with Martin Luther playing in non-conference competition before several teams kick off the conference season on Feb. 27. The UMAC tournament is set to begin Monday, April 29 with semifinal action before the championship match on Friday, April 3.
2019 UMAC Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. St. Scholastica - 49 points (7 First Place Votes)
2. Northwestern - 42 points (1 First Place Vote)
3. Wisconsin-Superior - 38 points
T4. Bethany Lutheran - 27 points
T4. Martin Luther - 27 points
6. Minnesota Morris - 19 points
7. Crown -12 points
8. North Central - 10 points
Team Previews
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BLC |
CC |
CSS |
MLC |
NCU |
UMM |
UNW |
UWS |
Bethany Lutheran College
Jill Bailey | 3rd Season |
2018 Season
4-3 UMAC, 9-12 Overall | 4th |
Postseason: #4 Seed in UMAC Conference Tournament Lost 0-9 to #1 St. Scholastica
Top Returners
- Laine Larson, Sr | 2018 All-UMAC| 2018: Singles – 7-13, Doubles – 10-11
- Dalton Werckman, Sr | 2018 All-UMAC| 2018: Singles – 10-11, Doubles – 10-11
- Carter Dahl, Sr | 2015 All-UMAC | 2018: Singles – 8-12, Doubles – 10-11
The College of St. Scholastica
Wells Patten | 23rd Season |
2018 Season
7-0 UMAC, 9-10 | 1st |
Postseason: Defeated Bethany Lutheran 9-0; Lost to Northwestern in the UMAC Tournament Championship (5-4)
Top Returners
- Serhii Tykhonenko, Jr. | 2017 & 2018 UMAC Player of the Year; 2017, 2018 All-UMAC | 2018: Singles – 14-7, Doubles – 9-8
- Elliot Schneider, So. | 2018 All-UMAC | 2018: Singles – 15-5, Doubles – 8-9 |Led the team with 15 singles wins |
- Jack Kearney, So. | 2018 All-UMAC | 2018: Singles – 11-8, Doubles – 6-5 |Won final six singles matches of the season |
Need to Know
The 2018 UMAC Tournament loss to Northwestern marked the first dual loss to a UMAC program since April of 1997
Crown College
Eric Shourds | 2nd season |
2018 Season
1-6 UMAC, 2-11 | 7th |
Top Returners
- Caleb Baumann, So. | 2X UMAC Player of the Week | 2018: Singles: 2-12, Doubles: 2-10 | #1 Singles, #1 in Doubles in 2018 for CC
- Romeo Mork, So. | 2018: Singles Record: 3-9, Doubles Record: 2-10 | #2 Singles, #1 Doubles in 2018 for CC
Need to Know
Crown Men’s Tennis enters its second year of play.
Martin Luther College
Arlen Koestler | 24th season |
2018 Season
3-4 UMAC, 5-9 | 5th |
Top Returners
- Josh Koelpin, SR | 2017 First Team All-UMAC | 2018: Singles (#2) – 6-8, Doubles (#2) – 5-9 |
- Nicolas Gartner, SR | 2018: Singles (#5) – 5-6, Doubles (#3) – 5-6 |
- Joshua Schroeder, JR | 2018: Singles (#6) – 6-4, Doubles (#3) – 6-4 |
Need to Know
Last season was marked the second time since 2008 that MLC did not finish in the top four of the conference
North Central University
Carin L. Tuff | 2nd Season |
2018 Season
0-7 UMAC, 0-13 | 8th |
Top Returners
- Micah Peterson, So. | 2018: 0-13 singles at No. 1, 2, 3 position |
- Judah Smith, So. | Captain | 2018: 0-13 singles at No. 1, 2, 3 position |
- Josiah Williams, Jr. | 2018: 0-12 singles |
Need to Know
With 3 new players on the team, NCU Men’s tennis is looking to build on their program year over year.
University of Minnesota Morris
Jalen Voss | 1st Season |
2018 Season
2-5 UMAC, 3-7 | 6th |
Top Returners
- Franklin Real, Jr. | 2018: 2-6, 4-6 |
- Jack Flicker, So. | 2018: 3-7, 3-7 |
- Gannon Youakim, Sr. | 2018: 3-7, 2-7 |
University of Northwestern
Matt Swigart | 7th season |
2018 Season
6-1 UMAC, 13-11 | 2nd |
Postseason: Won 2018 UMAC Tournament (Win vs. UW-Superior, 8-1; Win vs. St. Scholastica, 5-4); Advanced to first ever NCAA Tournament (Lost to Coe, 5-0)
Top Returners
- Landon Ridpath, Sr. | 2018 All-UMAC | 2018: Singles – 12-10 (6-1 UMAC), Doubles – 13-10 (6-1 UMAC)
- Davis Pfaff, So. | 2018 Singles – 11-9 overall (5-1 UMAC), Doubles – 14-9 (7-0 UMAC)
Need to Know
The Eagles 2018 UMAC Tournament Championship marked the second time winning it, but the first time winning it as a dual match. Northwestern last won it in 2011, when it was based on cumulative score.
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Kolin Dean | 2nd Season |
2018 Season
5-2 UMAC, 10-7 Overall | 3rd |
Postseason: Lost, 8-1, to No. 2-seed Northwestern in UMAC Semifinals
Top Returners
- Josiah Borst, Sr. | 2018 First Team All-UMAC | UMAC Player of the Week, March 26 | 2018: Singles – 10-7, Doubles – 8-9 |
- Will Sherman, So. | 2018: Singles - 8-5, Doubles – 8-9 |
- Leo Paredes, Sr. | 2018: Singles – 5-9, Doubles – 10-7 |