Tennessee Tech's men and Eastern Kentucky's women are predicted to win their respective 2013 OVC Tennis titles in a poll of the league's head coaches. The Golden Eagles earned 76 points while the Colonels took 100 points. The Austin Peay men received 70 points for a predicted second-place finish while Eastern Kentucky follows in third with 66 points. Rounding out the men's poll are OVC newcomer Belmont (62), Jacksonville State (48), Morehead State (34), Murray State (30), SIUE (29), Eastern Illinois (26) and Tennessee State (9). On the women's side, UT Martin grabbed second place with 89 points followed by Austin Peay with 79 points. Murray State (66), Eastern Illinois (58), Jacksonville State (50), Morehead State (48), Belmont (40), Southeast Missouri (34), SIUE (31) and Tennessee State (11) complete the women's poll.
The Tennessee Tech men captured its ninth OVC crown last season and its first since 2008. The Golden Eagles posted a perfect 8-0 record in league play last year, falling to Eastern Kentucky in the conference tournament championship match. Tech had three players ranked in the preseason's top 10 with senior Syrym Abdukhalikov at No. 2 followed by the 2012 OVC Co-Freshman of the Year Alejandro Augusto at the No. 4 spot. Junior Vasily Eremeev came in No. 8.
The Eastern Kentucky women won its second OVC regular-season title and tourney crown last year after going a perfect 9-0 in league action. It was the second time the Colonels won both crowns in the same year. EKU had three players named to the preseason top 10 list. The 2012 OVC Freshman of the Year Amandine Faouzi earned the No. 1 spot while sophomore Melissa Gerristen was No. 3 followed by Kristina Labeja at No. 6.
The 2013 OVC Tennis Championship will be held April 19-21 in Paducah, Ky.
2013 OVC Men's Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league's head coaches)
1. Tennessee Tech (5 first-place votes) - 76
2. Austin Peay (2 first-place votes) - 70
3. Eastern Kentucky (1 first-place vote) - 66
4. Belmont - 62
5. Jacksonville State - 48
6. Morehead State - 34
7. Murray State - 30
8. SIUE - 29
9. Eastern Illinois - 26
10. Tennessee State – 9
2013 OVC Women's Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league's head coaches)
1. Eastern Kentucky (10 first-place votes) - 100
2. UT Martin (1 first-place votes) - 89
3. Austin Peay - 79
4. Murray State - 66
5. Eastern Illinois - 58
6. Jacksonville State - 50
7. Morehead State - 48
8. Belmont - 40
9. Southeast Missouri - 34
10. SIUE - 31
11. Tennessee State – 11