Nighthawks Earn 4th Position in NECC Preseason

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Mitchell College has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to capture the New England Collegiate Conference men's tennis championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the NECC's head men's tennis coaches.

 Five of the nine NECC members sponsor men's tennis.

The Mitchell Mariners (11-0, 8-0 NECC), 2009 NECC Men's Tennis Champions, received three of the five first-place votes in the 2010 NECC preseason poll. The Mariners are led by Rick Carmona, 2009 NECC Men's Tennis Coach of the Year. Mitchell returns seven players and three starters.

The Mariners return three top players including the 2009 NECC Player of the Year sophomore Kyle Carmona (Norwich, Conn.) who went 12-0 in both singles and doubles play last season. Also returning is senior Chris White (Marshfield, Mass.) and junior Adam Samuels (New Rochelle, N.Y.) who is a first team all-conference member.

Lesley University and Becker College tied for second place both with 26 points. Lesley received one first place vote. Newbury had 21 points for fourth place, while Wheelock rounded out the poll with 17 points.

2010 NECC PRESEASON MEN'S TENNIS POLL

TEAM, POINTS (First Place Votes)

Mitchell, 30 (3)

Lesley, 26 (1)

Becker, 26

Newbury, 21

Wheelock, 17

- Press release submitted by Christa Parulis-Kaye, Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations - New England Collegiate Conference