LANCASTER, Pa. – The Ursinus College men's tennis team was picked seventh in the Centennial Conference preseason poll released this morning by the league office.

Nine-time defending CC champion Johns Hopkins was the unanimous favorite of the conference's head coaches, earning nine first-place votes and a total of 81 points to top the poll. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams, so Swarthmore collected the other first-place vote and landed in second with 71 points.

Franklin & Marshall was third with 61 points, followed by Haverford (59), Washington College (45), Dickinson (43), Ursinus (38), Gettysburg (22), Muhlenberg (21), and McDaniel (9).

The Bears finished 11-9 overall and 3-6 in CC matches last season. Seeking their first playoff appearance in three years, Ursinus' lineup will be headlined by senior captain Tyler Arsenault and sophomore Caleb Kramer. Arsenault and Kramer were second team all-conference doubles selections after teaming up to go 10-7 on the number one court in 2015, while Kramer finished 9-9 at number one singles to garner another second team all-conference nod. Arsenault posted a 16-6 singles mark, going 12-5 at number two. Fellow senior captain Dalton Lynch was 15-8 individually, including a 10-5 record at fourth singles.

Ursinus also brings back junior Henry Burke and sophomore Peter Shields, who played third and fifth singles, respectively, a year ago. Junior Jordan Hodess spent some time in the sixth singles flight, where he went 4-2.

The Bears serve up the spring season with its spring break trip to Orlando, which starts on Saturday, March 5.

2016 Centennial Conference Preseason Poll