Temple University Athletics
Temple Men's Tennis Picked Fourth in Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll
2.3.10 | Men's Tennis
Owls expected to improve on last year's sixth place finish
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Temple men's tennis team has been selected to finish fourth in the 12-team Atlantic 10 men's tennis conference. With the return of a strong nucleus of student-athletes to the hard court, George Washington is the favorite to win the 2010 Atlantic 10 men's tennis championship in voting conducted by the league's head coaches.
Xavier, last year's A-10 champion, finished in a tie for second place with Saint Louis, followed by the Owls in fourth.
Temple, 14-10 a year ago, returns both of its all conference players in sophomores Filip Rams and Dmitry Vizhunov. Both players earned first team honors as rookies, making them two of the only three freshmen on the squad.
Rams had an outstanding debut for the Cherry and White, compiling a team and conference best 23 wins while playing primarily in the #1 and #2 singles spots. In doubles, he teamed mostly with senior Eduardo Saavedra to go 19-9, including 11-7 at the #1 spot. Rams was a four-time A-10 Rookie of the Week and two-time Performer of the Week.
Vizhunov also played well, going 22-11 including 17-7 in the spring. He was a perfect 7-0 at #3 singles and also was 9-2 at #4. The Sochi, Russia native won 13 of his final 14 matches. The freshman played primarily with senior Nathan Spunda at #3 doubles, recording a 13-6 mark in the spring. He was a two-time A-10 Rookie of the Week.
St. Bonaventure is picked fifth, followed by Charlotte, Duquesne, Richmond, Dayton and Saint Joseph's. La Salle and Fordham finished tied for eleventh.
The 2010 A-10 Men's Tennis Championship will be held April 16-18 at Club 4 Life in Monroeville, Pa.
(2009 A-10 Championship finish in parentheses)
1. George Washington (3rd)
2. Xavier (1st)
(tie) Saint Louis (4th)
4. Temple (6th)
5. St. Bonaventure (2nd)
6. Charlotte (5th)
7. Duquesne (7th)
8. Richmond (Tie-9th)
9. Dayton (Tie-9th)
10. Saint Joseph's (8th)
11. La Salle (Tie-11th)
(tie) Fordham (Tie-11th)
