ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2025 Men’s Tennis Preseason Coaches Polls on Wednesday with the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets predicted to win the North Division and the Greenville University Panthers predicted to win the South Division. The polls were voted on by all the head coaches in each respective division. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
2025 UMAC Men's Tennis North Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1. UW-Superior | 15 (3)
2. Northwestern | 14 (2)
3. Martin Luther | 10
4. Crown | 6
5. Bethany Lutheran | 5
2025 UMAC Men's Tennis South Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Greenville | 15 (3)
2. Principia | 14 (2)
3. Webster | 10
4. Westminster | 7
5. Mississippi | 4
The top two teams in each division at the close of the regular season will compete in the UMAC Tournament at Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota with the semifinals scheduled for Friday, May 2 and the championship slated for Saturday, May 3. The tournament champion will receive the UMAC’s automatic qualifying bid to the 2025 NCAA DIII Men’s Tennis Championship to compete in the national tournament.
NORTH DIVISION
#1: UW-Superior Yellowjackets (15 Points, 3 First-Place Votes)
The University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets led the North Division preseason poll with 15 points and three first-place votes from their conference competitors. The Yellowjackets won the North Division last year with a 4-0 UMAC record while going 13-10 overall.
The Yellowjackets entered the 2024 UMAC Tournament as the No. 1 seed from the North Division. UW-Superior fell 5-4 in the semifinals to the Greenville Panthers.
Head Coach:
- CeeJay Schaffner | 6th Season
Top Returners:
- Igor Guetten Chaves | Jr.
- 2023 UMAC POY | 2024 All-UMAC Second Team
- Singles – 10-7, Doubles– 11-11
- Sharan Kanugovi | So.
- 2024 All-UMAC First Team
- 2024: Singles – 19-7, Doubles – 14-7
- Yash Chhabra | So.
- 2024 All-UMAC Second Team
- 2024: Singles – 10-10, Doubles – 6-1
#2: Northwestern Eagles (14 Points, 2 First-Place Votes)
The University of Northwestern Eagles placed second in the preseason poll with 14 points and two first-place votes. Last year, UNW went 18-11 overall with a 3-1 record in the UMAC to place second in the North Division.
Northwestern was the No. 2 North Division seed in the 2024 UMAC Tournament. The Eagles fell 5-0 in the semifinals to the Principia Panthers, who went on to win the tournament.
Head Coach:
- Matt Swigart | 13th Season
Top Returners:
- Carson Haack | So.
- 2024 UMAC North Div. Rookie of the Year, 2024 First Team All-Conference
- 2024: 14-13 Singles, 18-10 Doubles |2024: 2-1 in UMAC Singles, 2-1 in UMAC Doubles
- Griffen Jarchow | Jr.
- 2024 First Team All-Conference, 2023 Second Team All-Conference, 2x Academic All-Conference | ITA Scholar Athlete, NCCAA Scholar-Athlete
- 2024: 16-12 Singles, 10-15 Doubles |2024: 2-1 in UMAC Singles, 2-1 in UMAC Doubles;
- Career: 31-22 Singles, 19-24 Doubles, 9-3 in UMAC Singles, 6-2 in UMAC Doubles
- Caleb Jergenson | So.
- 2024 All-Conference Honorable Mention, 2024 Academic All-Conference
- 2024: 12-10 Singles, 3-2 Doubles |2024: 1-0 in UMAC Singles
#3: Martin Luther Knights (10 Points)
The Martin Luther College Knights took third in the preseason poll with 10 points. MLC finished fifth in the 2024 regular season with a 0-4 conference record, going 3-10 overall.
Head Coach:
- Paul Koelpin | 3rd Season
Top Returners:
- Johannes Bourman, Junior
- 2024: Singles Record: 1-12, Doubles Record: 0-11
- Matthew Koelpin, Junior
- 2024: Singles Record: 4-7, Doubles Record: 0-11
- Eli Stern, Sophomore
- 2024: Singles Record: 5-8, Doubles Record: 5-6
#4: Crown Polars (6 Points)
The Crown College Polars placed fourth in the preseason poll with six points. Last year, Crown finished fourth in the North Division with a 1-3 conference record, going 1-13 overall.
Head Coach:
- Keagan Blancke | 1st Season
Top Returners:
- David Commings | Sr.
- Gavin Leuthold | So.
- Dawson Richardson | So.
#5: Bethany Lutheran Vikings (5 Points)
The Bethany Lutheran Vikings placed fifth in the preseason poll with five points. BLC finished third in the North Division last year with a 2-2 UMAC record and a 3-8 overall record.
Head Coach:
- Michael Janes | 1st Season
Top Returners:
- Kyle Deyo | Sr.
- 2024: Singles 1-9, Doubles 2-9
- Ezra Greenman | So.
- 2024: Singles 1-8, Doubles 2-7
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SOUTH DIVISION
#1: Greenville Panthers (15 Points, 3 First-Place Votes)
The Greenville University Panthers led the South Division preseason poll with 15 points and three first-place votes from their conference competitors. The Panthers placed second in the South Division last year with a 3-3 UMAC record while going 14-8 overall.
The Panthers entered the 2024 UMAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed from the South Division. Greenville defeated UW-Superior in the semifinals 5-4 before falling 5-2 to Principia in the championship match.
Head Coach:
- Brett Brannon | 23rd Season
Top Returners:
- Andres Sanchez | Sr.
- 1st Team UMAC
- 2024: 16-7 Singles Record, 17-4 Doubles Record
- Rafael Rodriguez | Sr.
- 1st Team UMAC
- 2024: 10-9 Singles Record, 12-5 Doubles Record
- Clark Kent | Sr.
- 2nd Team UMAC
- 2024: 11-10 Singles Record, 12-11 Doubles Record
#2: Principia Panthers (14 Points, 2 First-Place Votes)
The Principia College Panthers placed second in the preseason poll with 14 points and two first-place votes. Last year, Principia went 13-9 overall with a 5-0 record in the UMAC to win the South Division.
Principia was the No. 1 South Division seed in the 2024 UMAC Tournament. The Panthers defeated the Northwestern Eagles 5-0 in the semifinals. They then took a 5-2 victory over Greenville in the championship to clinch the tournament title; their first UMAC championship in program history. With the UMAC automatic bid, the Panthers advanced to the NCAA tournament where they fell 5-0 to North Central.
Head Coach:
- Todd Zimmerman | 1st Season
Top Returners:
- Jesus Soto | Jr.
- 2023 UMAC South 1st Team
- 2024: Singles 12-9, Doubles 13-11
- Nacho Cachaza | Sr.
- 2023 UMAC South 1st Team
- 2024: Singles 14-5, Doubles 12-9
- Ernesto Botero | Jr.
- 2023 UMAC South 1st Team, 2022 UMAC South Rookie of the Year
- 2024: Singles 15-8, Doubles 13-11
#3: Webster Gorloks (10 Points)
The Webster University Gorloks took third in the preseason poll with 10 points. Webster finished third in the 2024 regular season with a 2-1 South Division record, going 8-12 overall.
Head Coach:
Top Returners:
- Ethan Foucheaux
- 12-4 at 1, 2 & 3 singles, 9-7 at 1 & 2 doubles
- Matt Birchmeier
- 5-11 at 1 & 2 singles, 7-9 at #1 doubles
- Carson Fisher
- 7-9 at 2 & 3 singles, 5-10 at 2 doubles
#4: Westminster Blue Jays (7 Points)
The Westminster College Blue Jays placed fourth in the preseason poll with seven points. Westminster finished fourth in the South Division last year with a 1-1 conference record, going 2-8 overall.
Head Coach:
- Samantha Pennington | 2nd Season
Top Returners:
- Cooper Pennington | Sr.
- John Stannard | Sr.
- Hugo Jover | Sr.
#5: Mississippi Owls (4 Points)
The Mississippi University for Women Owls placed fifth in the preseason poll with 5 points. The W went 0-2 in the UMAC and 2-13 overall last year.
Head Coach:
- Brian Merkel | 1st Season
Top Returners:
- Jasper Poag | Sr.
- Tyler Bailey | So.
- Lucas Suggs | Jr.