West Babylon, NY – On Monday, the East Coast Conference announced the results for the men’s and women’s tennis preseason polls, with both the St. Thomas Aquinas College programs picked to finish second on their respective sides of the conference seasons. 

After an abbreviated 2019-20 season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spartan programs look to build on last season’s success.  Both programs were in the midst of historic seasons before the remaining matches were cancelled. The women’s program had established a new record with their eleventh win of the season, and were regionally ranked for the first time in program history.

On the men’s side, a strong fall season saw the team start the season 7-2, winning their first seven matches while remaining undefeated in East region competition. A talented group of incoming recruits should mix well with the returners to form formidable lineups that should continue to compete within the region.

Official 2021 ECC Men's & Women's Tennis Preseason Polls

As previously announced by the conference, ECC tennis will have a different look this season due to COVID-19. Women's tennis, typically a fall sport in the conference, was moved to the spring when the rest of the ECC's fall sports were postponed. In addition, University of the District of Columbia's men's and women's teams and Molloy College's women's team have opted out of the season.

On the men’s side, the three remaining schools (Daemen, Queens, St. Thomas Aquinas) will play a six-game schedule consisting of three matchups against each opponent. The same three schools, as well as league-newcomer D’Youville, will compete in the women’s season that will see each team play eight matches. 

In addition, with only three championship eligible teams (D’Youville is ineligible as a provisional NCAA Division II member) the semifinals of the conference championship will be eliminated, leaving only the final between the top two-seeds to determine the league’s champion.

Both championships will take place the weekend of May 1 at a to be determined location.