Greenville, SC – Conference Carolinas announced the 2022 Men's Tennis Preseason Poll on January 6 with the Belmont Abbey Crusaders picked first in the preseason poll.

The Belmont Abbey Crusaders were picked first in the preseason poll with 90 points and three first place finish votes.  The Crusaders were 14-11 last season and were 7-1 in conference action.  In the Conference Carolinas Tournament, Belmont Abbey defeated the number three seeded Emmanuel Lions 4-0 in the semifinals.  However, the Crusaders fell to the University of Mount Olive Trojans in the championship in a 1-4 final. 

The Crusaders were followed in the preseason poll by the Barton Bulldogs and the University of Mount Olive Trojans in tie for second place with 87 points each.  The Bulldogs' 87 points included five first place finish votes after Barton went 12-6 and 5-3 in conference last season.  Barton advanced to the Conference Carolinas Championship where they defeated the King Tornado in the opening round in a 4-0 final.  They continued to impress as the Bulldogs took down the Southern Wesleyan Warriors 4-3 in the quarterfinals.  However, Barton fell to the University of Mount Olive Trojans 2-4 in the semifinals to conclude their 2021 season.  The Trojans' 87 points included three first place finish votes.  Last season, the Trojans finished with a 12-4 overall record and were 7-1 in conference action.  They defeated the Barton Bulldogs in the semifinals in a 4-2 final to advance to the championship match.  In the championship, Barton defeated the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in a 4-1 final to claim the title and advance to regionals.  However, the Bulldogs fell in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional to the University of North Georgia Nighthawks in a 0-4 final to end their season.

The Emmanuel Lions were picked fourth in the preseason poll with 80 points.  The Lions went 9-7 overall and were 6-2 in conference last season.  They advanced to the Conference Carolinas Tournament where they defeated the Lees-McRae Bobcats 4-0 in the first round.  However, their season ended in the next round as the Belmont Abbey Crusaders walked away with a 4-0 victory to end the Lions' season.  In their first season in Conference Carolinas, the Francis Marion Patriots were picked fifth with 60 points.  The Patriots went 2-12 and were 0-7 in the Peach Belt Conference last season. 

The Patriots were followed in the polls by the Converse Valkyries (43), Southern Wesleyan Warriors (42) and Lees-McRae Bobcats (40).  The Conference Carolinas field was wrapped up with the North Greenville Crusaders (34), King Tornado (25) and Chowan Hawks (17).

Southern Wesleyan was picked seventh in the 2022 preseason poll after they went 8-8 and were 5-3 in Conference Carolinas action last season.  The Warriors' record earned them a bi in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament as the number four seed.  However, they fell to the Barton Bulldogs in a 3-4 final to conclude their 2022 season.  The Warriors will return All-Conference Second Team tennis player Sarvesh Maria.  Maria went 8-7 in singles and 9-5 in doubles action last season.  He will be joined by returner Enzo Marcheschi and freshman Parker Willis.  Marcheschi went 4-7 last season in singles and was 8-4 in doubles action. 

The Warriors kicked off their 2022 season on October 29 as they faced the Newberry Wolves.  However, the Warriors fell in a 6-1 final to the Wolves.  The lone point came off Parker Willis' 6-4, 6-3 singles match victory over Enzo Blavignat.  Southern Wesleyan will pick-up the Spring segment of their 2022 season in February.