CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Army West Point and Boston University appear at the top of the Patriot League men and women’s preseason polls, respectively, for the fourth-straight year since the Terriers joined the League. Voting was conducted by the head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The Black Knights, who defeated top-seeded Navy for the Patriot League Championship crown last year, received all 16 eligible first-place votes to earn a maximum 128 points in this year’s preseason poll. The Midshipmen received the remaining two first-place votes and totaled 114 points. Boston University checked in at third with 97 points, while Lehigh followed with 81 points. Colgate (72), Bucknell (66), Loyola Maryland (42), Lafayette (32) and Holy Cross (16) rounded out the poll.
 
On the women’s side, the Terriers continue their reign at the top of the preseason poll since joining the League, collecting 124 points and 14 first-place votes. Navy received four first-place votes and totaled 111 points, while Army also reached triple digits in points with 107 for third and was followed by Lehigh (84), Bucknell, (68), Loyola (57), Colgate (51), Lafayette (28), and Holy Cross (18).
 
The preseason polls were voted on by the Patriot League men’s and women’s tennis head coaches and sports information directors, who could not vote for their own team.
 
The 2017 Patriot League Men's Tennis Championship will be played at Navy’s Fluegel-Moore Tennis Stadium from Thursday, April 20 to Sunday, April 23, with the women competing the following week at Lehigh’s Ulrich Varsity Courts from Thursday April 27 to Sunday, April 30.
 
Army returns 2016 Patriot League Rookie of the Year David Mitchell along with half of last year’s Patriot League Double Team of the Year in Grant Riechmann. The pair earned second team All-League last year as did returning teammate Mike Nguyen. Sam Lampman, who garnered first team All-League last year, is back for his senior season. Boston University, Bucknell, Colgate, Lehigh, and Navy each return one All-League selection from last year: Jay Leelavanich (Boston U., first team); Daniel Wright (Bucknell, second team); Jacob Daugherty (Colgate, first team); Jack Petersen (Lehigh, second team); and Thomas Pecor (Navy, second team).
 
Boston U. will miss three-time Patriot League Player of the Year, Johanna Hyoty, but Sabrina Faybyshey – last year’s Patriot League Rookie of the Year – will be back for the Terriers. Faybyshev also partnered with Hyoty and the two were the unanimous selection for Doubles Team of the Year. She earned second team laurels last year and was joined by returning teammates Iryna Kostirko and Barbara Rodriguez. Lehigh’s Christina Auyeung, a two-time first team all-League choice, will be back on the court as will four other All-League players: Rugile Valuniate (Army, second team); Lauren Hyland (Colgate, second team); Amanda Keller (Navy, first team); and Claudia Mackenzie (Navy, second team).
 
Three squads are first to open their spring schedule and play this weekend, while the remaining Patriot League teams begin competition later in January or early February. The Army men open the weekend at the ATP Challenger at Dallas, which goes from Friday, Jan. 13 to Sunday, Jan. 15. The Bucknell men will also open this weekend, travelling down to Chapel Hill to play North Carolina, Wofford, Campbell, and UNCG from Saturday to Monday. Navy has the lone women’s team opening this weekend, as the Mids head to University Park to take on Penn State on Saturday at noon.
 
Patriot League Men and Women’s Tennis Preseason Polls
 

Men’s Tennis
Army (16), 128 points
Navy (2), 114 points
Boston University, 97 points
Lehigh, 81 points
Colgate, 72 points
Bucknell, 66 points
Loyola Maryland, 42 points
Lafayette, 32 points
Holy Cross, 16 points
 
Women’s Tennis
Boston University (14), 124 points
Navy (4), 111 points
Army, 107 points
Lehigh, 84 points
Bucknell, 68 points
Loyola Maryland, 57 points
Colgate, 51 points
Lafayette, 28 points
Holy Cross, 18 points