UMO men's tennis picked 2nd in preseason conference poll

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 29, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

HIGH POINT -- Is No. 2 luckier?

The University of Mount Olive men's tennis team certainly hopes so this season. The Trojans are picked to finish second behind defending champion Limestone (S.C.) College in the 2014 Conference Carolinas preseason coaches poll released Tuesday.

Despite the loss of two All-Americans, Limestone generated five first-place votes and edged the Trojans, 60-59, in total points once the ballots were tabulated. UMO received three first-place nods among the league's nine head coaches.

"I think it represents the hard work that we've put in, very flattering to be near the top," third-year UMO head coach and alum Kevin Coghill said. "We had a very good fall season (and I) think that reflects it."

Coaches selected Pfeiffer University third. Erskine collected one first-place vote and finished fourth. King (Tenn.) University, Barton, North Greenville, Belmont Abbey and Lees-McRae rounded out the poll.

One year ago, the Trojans drew the preseason No. 1 ranking after winning the Conference Carolinas championship and advancing to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional the previous spring. Last season, UMO reached the conference tournament semifinals.

Five full- or part-time starters are back, including two-time all-Conference Carolinas performer Edgar Bub. Coghill expects returnees Rik Wolthuis, Stan Roffe, Brahm Moolman and Henric Falkenberg to play key roles this season.

Matt Finnerty, who sat out his freshman year, defeated three of the top four seeds to capture the Group A singles title in a conference-wide tournament contested during the fall.

"Last year, we were number one (in the preseason) and it didn't work out for us," Coghill said. "Maybe number two will be different and I think we will be very motivated to do better than our preseason ranking. I think there is going to be more depth (in the conference) this year, I really do.

"We're not going to have an easy go at it. We're going to have to go out and play. Those close 5-4 losses we had last year will motivate us to strive past that this year."

UMO launches its 2014 season Feb. 2 at East Carolina University. The Trojans' home opener is Feb. 9 against perennial Peach Belt powerhouse Francis Marion (S.C.) University.