Belmont and Tennessee Tech are predicted to share the 2020 OVC Men's Tennis title while Austin Peay has been selected to win the women's crown in a poll of the league's head coaches. The Bruins and the Golden Eagles each had three-first place votes and 23 points. The Jacksonville State men had 16 points to be picked to finish third while Eastern Illinois follows in fourth with 11 points. Austin Peay (10) and Tennessee State (6) round out the men's poll. On the women's side, Austin Peay had six first-place votes and 62 points while Murray State earned two first-place votes and 55 points for a second-place predicted finish. Jacksonville State grabbed third place with 50 points while Southeast Missouri picked up one first-place vote and 40 points for fourth place. Belmont came in fifth with 31 points followed by SIUE (26), UT Martin (24), Eastern Illinois (23) and Tennessee State (8).
Belmont and Tennessee Tech shared the 2019 OVC regular-season title with 4-1 league marks. The Bruins finished the season with 12-10 overall mark while the Golden Eagles had a 10-14 overall mark. Tech went on to win its fourth OVC Tennis Championship last season.
The Austin Peay women won the 2019 OVC regular-season title and tournament crown after going a perfect 8-0 in league action and 22-1 overall. The Governors lone loss of the season came in the NCAA Tournament to Wake Forest.
The 2020 OVC Men's and Women's Tennis Championships will be held at the Adams Tennis Complex in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
2020 OVC Men's Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league's head coaches)
t1. Belmont (3 first-place votes) - 23
t1. Tennessee Tech (3 first-place votes) - 23
3. Jacksonville State - 16
4. Eastern Illinois - 11
5. Austin Peay - 10
6. Tennessee State - 6
2020 OVC Women's Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league's head coaches)
1. Austin Peay (8 first-place votes) - 62
2. Murray State (2 first-place votes) - 55
3. Jacksonville State - 50
4. Southeast Missouri (1 first-place vote) -40
5. Belmont - 31
6. SIUE - 26
7. UT Martin - 24
8. Eastern Illinois - 23
9. Tennessee State - 8