Feb. 26, 2008

BALTIMORE, MD - The Johns Hopkins men's tennis team has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the Centennial Conference title this spring in a vote of the conference's head coaches. The Blue Jays received eight of 10 first place votes and a total of 80 points. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team.

Tied for second in the preseason poll are Haverford and Swarthmore with 66 points apiece. Swarthmore received the other two first place votes. Washington College is in fourth with 57 points while Dickinson rounds out the top five with 53 points. Hopkins went undefeated in conference play last season with an 8-0 record and then defeated Dickinson and Haverford in the tournament to claim its second title in three seasons.

Hopkins, ranked 11th in the nation and second in the Atlantic South by the ITA, is coming off a tough outing at the National Indoor Championships. The Blue Jays finished eighth after facing #2 Emory, #9 Trinity (TX) and #6 DePauw. The Blue Jays return to action on Thursday, March 13 when they travel to Gettysburg, PA to take on the Bullets. The match is set for 4:00 pm.

School (1st Place Votes) • Points
1. Johns Hopkins (8) • 80
T-2. Haverford • 66
T-2. Swarthmore (2) • 66
4 Washington • 57
5. Dickinson • 53
6. Franklin & Marshall • 32
7. Gettysburg • 31
8. Muhlenberg • 30
9. Ursinus •16
10. McDaniel •14