NCAA Qualifier Razvan Grigorescu was named a Summit League Player to Watch in 2018.
Photo by: Shad Beam/Omaha Athletics
Omaha Picked Fourth in Preseason Summit League Poll
Jan 11, 2018 | Men's Tennis
OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha men's tennis team has been picked fourth in the 2018 Summit League Poll; the league office announced Thursday afternoon.  A vote of the league's head coaches determined the preseason poll.
Drake received five out of six first-place votes for a total of 35 points as it enters the league after claiming the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference crown. The remaining two first-place votes went to four-time defending league regular season and tournament champion Denver, which had 32 points. Valparaiso, which won the 2017 Horizon League title and joins as an affiliate member this season, placed third with 22 points. Illinois State, another affiliate member new to the league, and Omaha tied for fourth with 19 points. Oral Roberts and South Dakota State rounded out the poll.
The Mavericks return six letterwinners from their 2017 squad, including NCAA National Tournament qualifier Razvan Grigorescu. Â Grigorescu and newcomer Abdoul Ouattara were named 2018 Summit League Players to Watch. Â Omaha opens the spring season Saturday, Jan. 20, visiting the University of Wisconsin.
2018 MEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL
School (1st-place votes) - Points
1. Â Drake (5) - 35
2. Â Denver (2) - 32
3. Â Valparaiso - 22
4. Â Omaha - 19
  Illinois State - 19
6. Â Oral Roberts - 14
7. Â South Dakota State - 5
Note: Coaches may not vote for their own teams
#SummitMTN PLAYERS TO WATCH
Andreas Boers, Illinois State, Sr.
•   Posted a team-best 11-9 singles record and 7-6 doubles mark in 2017
Vinny Gillespie, Drake, Jr.
•   Finished 2017 season ranked No. 90 in singles
•   MVC Player of the Year and five-time Athlete of the Week in 2017
Razvan Grigorescu, Omaha, So.
•   Summit League Newcomer of the Year and All-Summit League selection in 2017
•   Automatic qualifier to the 2017 NCAA Men's Singles Championship
Chad Kissell, Valparaiso, Jr.
•   Posted a 21-12 singles record and 24-5 doubles mark in 2017
•   2017 All-league performer
Barnabas Koncz, Oral Roberts, Jr.
•   Won seven matches, including two Summit League contests, at No. 1 singles in 2017
•   2017 All-Summit League selection
Abdoul Ouattara, Omaha, So.
•   Native of Ivory Coast and Seminole State (Fla.) transfer
Mattia Ros, Denver, Fr.
•   Held top-15 ranking in Italy for his age group
•   Won three Italian national tournaments and was ranked No. 2.4 (group two of four top tiers) in national rankings
Emerson Styles, South Dakota State, Jr.
•   Won seven singles matches, including six at the No. 1 position, in 2017
Note: Players to Watch selected by league's head coaches
#SummitMTN PRESEASON NOTES
•   Three affiliate members join the league this season (Drake, Illinois State and Valparaiso)
•   The 2018 league lineup features three teams that won their tournaments last season: Denver (Summit), Drake (Missouri Valley), and Valparaiso (Horizon)
•   Drake's Ben Clark is ranked No. 124 in ITA singles
•   Denver seeks to become the first Summit League team to win five consecutive tournament titles since 2002 (Oral Roberts)
•   With a 12-1 career league singles record, Denver's Wyatt Lovera has the highest active winning percentage at .923 (min. two seasons and 10 decisions)
•   Denver enters the season tied for the second-longest league win streak (20) in history
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Drake received five out of six first-place votes for a total of 35 points as it enters the league after claiming the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference crown. The remaining two first-place votes went to four-time defending league regular season and tournament champion Denver, which had 32 points. Valparaiso, which won the 2017 Horizon League title and joins as an affiliate member this season, placed third with 22 points. Illinois State, another affiliate member new to the league, and Omaha tied for fourth with 19 points. Oral Roberts and South Dakota State rounded out the poll.
The Mavericks return six letterwinners from their 2017 squad, including NCAA National Tournament qualifier Razvan Grigorescu. Â Grigorescu and newcomer Abdoul Ouattara were named 2018 Summit League Players to Watch. Â Omaha opens the spring season Saturday, Jan. 20, visiting the University of Wisconsin.
2018 MEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL
School (1st-place votes) - Points
1. Â Drake (5) - 35
2. Â Denver (2) - 32
3. Â Valparaiso - 22
4. Â Omaha - 19
  Illinois State - 19
6. Â Oral Roberts - 14
7. Â South Dakota State - 5
Note: Coaches may not vote for their own teams
#SummitMTN PLAYERS TO WATCH
Andreas Boers, Illinois State, Sr.
•   Posted a team-best 11-9 singles record and 7-6 doubles mark in 2017
Vinny Gillespie, Drake, Jr.
•   Finished 2017 season ranked No. 90 in singles
•   MVC Player of the Year and five-time Athlete of the Week in 2017
Razvan Grigorescu, Omaha, So.
•   Summit League Newcomer of the Year and All-Summit League selection in 2017
•   Automatic qualifier to the 2017 NCAA Men's Singles Championship
Chad Kissell, Valparaiso, Jr.
•   Posted a 21-12 singles record and 24-5 doubles mark in 2017
•   2017 All-league performer
Barnabas Koncz, Oral Roberts, Jr.
•   Won seven matches, including two Summit League contests, at No. 1 singles in 2017
•   2017 All-Summit League selection
Abdoul Ouattara, Omaha, So.
•   Native of Ivory Coast and Seminole State (Fla.) transfer
Mattia Ros, Denver, Fr.
•   Held top-15 ranking in Italy for his age group
•   Won three Italian national tournaments and was ranked No. 2.4 (group two of four top tiers) in national rankings
Emerson Styles, South Dakota State, Jr.
•   Won seven singles matches, including six at the No. 1 position, in 2017
Note: Players to Watch selected by league's head coaches
#SummitMTN PRESEASON NOTES
•   Three affiliate members join the league this season (Drake, Illinois State and Valparaiso)
•   The 2018 league lineup features three teams that won their tournaments last season: Denver (Summit), Drake (Missouri Valley), and Valparaiso (Horizon)
•   Drake's Ben Clark is ranked No. 124 in ITA singles
•   Denver seeks to become the first Summit League team to win five consecutive tournament titles since 2002 (Oral Roberts)
•   With a 12-1 career league singles record, Denver's Wyatt Lovera has the highest active winning percentage at .923 (min. two seasons and 10 decisions)
•   Denver enters the season tied for the second-longest league win streak (20) in history
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Players Mentioned
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