Men's tennis named unanimous preseason favorite

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's tennis team has been picked as the unanimous favorites in the Northeast Conference this season, as the league announced the annual coaches poll on Wednesday.

Bryant received all six possible first-place votes on the ballot of the NEC head coaches as the Bulldogs look to continue their stretch of four-straight tournament titles. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

Saint Francis U, Bryant's opponent in the NEC final last spring, was picked second. Fairleigh Dickinson, Wagner, Mount St. Mary's, Sacred Heart and St. Francis Brooklyn round out the poll.

The Black and Gold have won each of the last four NEC Tournament titles, becoming just the fourth team in NEC history to accomplish the feat. Bryant has gone 29-2 in regular season matches against NEC opponents since the beginning of the 2010-11 season.

Bryant's spring season is already in full swing and the Bulldogs are 3-8 overall and 1-0 in league play. Reigning NEC Player of the Year Matt Kuhar (Smithfield, R.I.) has led the way, posting a 7-1 record to start the year.