Feb. 18, 2009

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Endicott College men's tennis team has been selected to finish in the top half of The Commonwealth Coast Conference in 2009 as announced by TCCC Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye on Wednesday. The Gulls finished last season in fourth place overall in the TCCC and have been selected to finish there again in 2009. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league's head men's tennis coaches.

Seven-time defending Commonwealth Coast Conference Champion Salve Regina University has been slected as the favorite to win the 2009 TCCC men's tennis championship. The Seahawks (19-4, 9-0) received eight eight of the 10 first-place votes in the 2009 TCCC preseason poll. Roger Williams was selected by the coaches as the runner-up in the conference and received the two remaining first-place votes. Colby-Sawyer was picked to finish third, while Endicott and Western New England were picked to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Gulls defeated Western New England in the first round of last year's TCCC Playoffs before succumbing to eventual champion Salve Regina in the Semifinals. The Gulls will open their season on March 19th in Melbourne, Fla. at a time and opponent to be announced.

Teams received 10 points for every first place vote received, nine points for second place votes, eight points for third place votes, down to one point for a last place vote. First place votes are shown in parentheses.

2009 TCCC Preseason Men's Tennis Poll

Salve Regina - 98 (8)
Roger Williams - 87 (2)
Colby-Sawyer - 74
Endicott - 71
Western New England - 67
Nichols - 50
Curry - 37
Wentworth - 31
Eastern Nazarene - 19
Gordon - 16