By Dylan Vazzano, Sports Information Coordinator
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Junior Eduardo Mena headlines the list of four Golden Eagles selected in the OVC's Top 10 preseason player rankings, while the Tennessee Tech tennis team was also picked to finish first in the Ohio Valley Conference's predicted order of finish as voted on by the league's seven head coaches.
Mena comes in as No. 1 on the Top 10, joined by senior Alberto Esteban at No. 3, sophomore Guillermo Nicolas at No. 4 and junior Marcos Bernardes at No. 8. No other school had as many as three on the list.
Having set the gold standard of success with four regular season championships in the last four years, the Golden Eagles collected 36 votes en route to its first-place selection, garnering eight more votes than the next closest squad (EKU, 28), and an even wider gap between third with 11 more votes than JSU's 25.
Tech seized its fourth regular season crown in the last five years with its third undefeated march through conference play over that span, thanks to last season's perfect 9-0 record. The Golden Eagles went on to win the OVC Tournament championship with wins over Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky in the finals to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006. TTU's 15 wins last spring were the most since 2008.
Mena's No. 1 preseason ranking should come as little surprise following a record-setting sophomore campaign that saw the Bultrago Del Loyoza, Spain native take home last season's Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year honors. Mena established a new Tennessee Tech record with 33 total singles wins all of last year, highlighted by an eye-popping 20-1 spring singles record, including a perfect 9-0 mark in OVC action.
Mena was one of three Golden Eagles to take down All-OVC first team honors, joining Alberto Esteban and Guillermo Nicolas on the prestigious list. At No. 3, Esteban's preseason ranking is well deserved after rolling out a 7-2 singles conference record last spring, going 21-12 overall.
At No. 4, Nicolas' selection is well warranted after being named last season's Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. Nicolas was perfect in conference play with a 9-0 singles record, registering an 18-4 mark overall. The Villanueva de la Canada, Spain native also flexed his muscles during doubles play with an undefeated 7-0 record during OVC action, going 10-5 overall.
Marcos Bernardes rounds out Tech's preseason rankings list with a No. 8 selection after the Brasilia, Brazil native burst onto the scene in his first season in purple and gold a year ago. Bernardes posted an 8-1 singles record in OVC action, going 5-2 in conference doubles play as well. Overall, the 5-foot-9 junior tallied an impressive 14-4 mark in singles play during the spring.
The Golden Eagles are off to a 3-2 start this spring with the club getting ready to travel to Florida for three matches in three days over the weekend. Tech will be at UCF Friday and FGCU Saturday, before closing out its stay in the Sunshine State with a Sunday neutral site meeting against Charlotte in Fort Myers.
TTU's first OVC matchup of the spring is Mar. 18, the home opener at Tech Tennis Courts against Eastern Illinois.
2017 OVC Men's Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league's head coaches)
1 Tennessee Tech 36
2 Eastern Kentucky 28
3 Jacksonville State 25
4 Belmont 24
5 Austin Peay 16
6 Eastern Illinois 10
7 Tennessee State 8
2017 OVC Men's Top Ten Player Rankings
(as voted on by the league's head coaches)
1. Eduardo Mena, Tennessee Tech
t2. Ramon van Flymen, Eastern Kentucky
t2. Cedric Duiacquier, Belmont
3. Alberto Esteban, Tennessee Tech
4. Guillermo Nicolas, Tennessee Tech
5. Sebastian Mueller, Eastern Kentucky
6. Aaron Jumonville, Austin Peay
7. Andres Gomez, Jacksonville State
8. Marcos Bernardes, Tennessee Tech
9. Almantas Ozelis, Austin Peay
10. Jaryd Reese, Jacksonville State
Photo by Thomas Corhern
