University of Southern Indiana Men’s Tennis was picked to finish second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division, according to a poll voted on by the conference’s head coaches.
USI, which received one first-place vote and 72 points, follows the University of Indianapolis, which received the other 12 first-place votes and 84 points. Rounding out the East, Lewis University was projected third (63 points), McKendree fourth (45), along with Bellarmine University (37), University of Illinois Springfield (30) and Saint Joseph’s College (26).
Drury University was voted to win the West Division, receiving 12 first-place votes and 72 points. The University of Missouri-St. Louis is projected second with 55 points and the final first-place vote. They are followed by Rockhurst University (53), Quincy University (33), William Jewell College (25), and Truman State University (25).
The Screaming Eagles will be led by sophomore James Hardiman (Backwell Bristol, United Kingdom), who is ranked 43rd in the ITA national singles rankings, and went 5-3 in the fall portion of the schedule.
Other returning contributors are junior Samuel Kiladejo (London, England) and senior Aaron Barris (Marietta, Georgia). Kiladejo and Barris each went 2-3 in the fall.
Freshman Denis Davydov (Chorvatsky Grob, Slovakia) had a successful start to his collegiate career, going 4-2 during fall play.
In doubles, Davydov and Kiladejo are regionally ranked, while Hardiman and Barris will look to build a new winning streak after having their school record 18 consecutive wins was snapped at the ITA Regionals.
The Eagles spring schedule begins February 3 when they host Indiana University Southeast at 11 a.m. at the Evansville Tennis Center. Their busy opening weekend continues February 4 when they visit Eastern Kentucky University at 3 p.m. and then travel to Butler University February 5 for a noon matchup with the Bulldogs.
2017 GLVC Men’s Tennis East Division Preseason Poll
Team              Points    (1st Place)
1. Indianapolis         84        (12)
2. Southern Indiana    72        (1)
3. Lewis             63
4. McKendree         45
5. Bellarmine          37
6. Illinois Springfield     30
7. Saint Joseph’s       26
2017 GLVC Men’s Tennis West Division Preseason Poll
Team              Points    (1st Place)
1. Drury             72        (12)
2. Missouri-St. Louis    55        (1)
3. Rockhurst         53
4. Quincy            33
5. William Jewell       29
6. Truman State       25
