POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State men's tennis team finished ninth in the Big Sky Coaches' Preseason Poll released by conference officials Tuesday morning.
The Bengals finished 6-13 last season with a 3-8 mark in conference play. The team returns three players from last season's roster including
David Felix,
Peter Trhac and
Francis Filipovich; all three are seniors.
Gary Rendek,
Lukas Ridemar and
Fynn Lohse will all play their first spring tennis after joining the Bengals this fall.
Northern Arizona vaulted last year's championship teams for the top spot in the poll with 98 points and eight first-place votes. 2018 runner-up Montana (74) finished second in the poll despite receiving no first-place votes.
Defending champion Idaho claimed third with 72 points and two top votes. Southern Utah collected the final championship vote and finished fourth in the poll with 69 points.
Weber State (68), Portland State (58), Sacramento State (57) and Montana State (38) finished ahead of Idaho State in positions five through eight. Idaho State gathered 36 points to finish ninth ahead of Eastern Washington (25) and Northern Colorado (10).
The ISU men's tennis team opens play this weekend against Utah State University in Logan, Utah. The two teams begin the season Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.
2019 Big Sky Men's Tennis Preseason Poll
1. Northern Arizona – 98 (8)
2. Montana – 74
3. Idaho – 72 (2)
4. Southern Utah – 69 (1)
5. Weber State – 68
6. Portland State – 58
7. Sacramento State – 57
8. Montana State – 38
9. Idaho State – 36
10. Eastern Washington – 25
11. Northern Colorado – 10
