Northern Arizona Men Tabbed #BigSkyTennis Preseason Favorites
OGDEN, Utah (January 8, 2019) – Northern Arizona was picked first in the 2019 Big Sky Conference Men’s Tennis Preseason Poll on Tuesday as voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches. Coaches could not vote for their own team.
Northern Arizona collected eight first-place votes and 98 points to earn the title of preseason favorite. Led by two-time Big Sky MVP Tim Handel, the Lumberjacks return four players off last season’s lineup that finished second in the league and advanced to the tournament semifinals. Joining Handel from the 2018 campaign are seniors Thomas Fisher, Ruben Montano and Lucas Taylor. Handel and Montano ended the fall season ranked 25th nationally in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) doubles rankings.
Following a second-straight Big Sky title match appearance in 2018, Montana comes in second in the preseason poll with 74 points. The Grizzlies tied for second with Northern Arizona during the 2018 regular season before slipping by the second-seeded Lumberjacks in the semifinals, 4-3.
Winners of three of the last four Big Sky Championships and the 2018 Big Sky regular season champs, Idaho came in third in the poll with 72 points and two first-place votes. The Vandals have defeated Montana in the last two Big Sky title matches, posting a 10-1 record in the Big Sky last season to earn the top seed.
Southern Utah tallied 69 points and one first-place vote for fourth in the poll after a Big Sky quarterfinal appearance in 2018. Weber State followed closely behind in fifth with 68 points after appearing in the semifinals last season.
Portland State came in sixth with 58 points to edge out Sacramento State who totaled 57 points for seventh.
Rounding out the preseason poll was Montana State (38), Idaho State (36), Eastern Washington (25) and Northern Colorado (10).
The 2019 dual season begins Friday as Weber State battles BYU in Provo, Utah.
| 2019 Big Sky Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Team |
Points (1st-place votes) |
| 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 |