TENNIS TIGERS PICKED SECOND IN ODAC PRESEASON POLL

SALEM, VA (March 4, 2008)– Hampden-Sydney's tennis team was tagged with the second position in the 2008 ODAC Men's Tennis Coaches Poll, as announced yesterday afternoon at the ODAC offices in Salem, VA. The Tigers picked up 85 votes, placing them behind defending ODAC champion Washington and Lee, who received all ten first place votes and collected 100 points overall to claim the top spot in the poll.

Hampden-Sydney (2-0, 1-0 ODAC), behind the excellent play of 2007 Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, William Moss (Fredericksburg, VA/Fredericksburg), reached the conference semifinals one year ago before falling to the eventual champion Generals, who capturing their 27th league crown. The Tigers return three ODAC all-conference team selections, including Moss, sophomore Kenneth Holzapfel (Hagerstown, MD/St. Maria Goretti) and senior Andrew McLeod (Mandeville, Jamaica/Manchester).

Newcomers Rich Pugh (Augusta, GA/Lakeside), Tal Covington (Gainesville, VA/Flint Hill School), Shad Harrell (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) and Zack Pack (Keysville, VA/Randolph-Henry) have already made a positive impact on the 2008 squad, helping propel Coach Murrie Bates' unit to a 2-0 record on the young season. With tremendous young talent and the return of several key contributors, Hampden-Sydney is well on its way to improving upon its 10-6 overall mark and 5-4 ODAC record from 2007.

Roanoke College, with 78 points, earned the third spot in the poll. The Maroons fell to Washington and Lee in the conference championship match last season.

Listed below is the entire 2008 ODAC Coaches Poll. For a more in-depth view into each of the teams, please visit the ODAC on the web at www.odaconline.com

2008 ODAC Men’s Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll

(#) Denotes First Place Votes

www.hsc.edu/athletics