BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The University of Charleston topped the 2024 Mountain East Conference Men’s Tennis Preseason Poll, following a vote of the league’s head coaches.

Charleston was a unanimous pick to win the MEC championship with five first-place votes and 25 points. UC went 16-6 a season ago, including an unbeaten mark in conference play at 6-0. UC was upset in the MEC Tournament Championship against Fairmont State last spring, before advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 in Orlando. The Golden Eagles will be led this spring by first team All-MEC standouts Vicente Garcia and Jowan Rawson.

Fairmont State was second in the preseason poll with 21 points and the remaining first-place vote. The Falcons won the 2023 MEC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in Orlando following two wins at the Edinboro site of the Atlantic Regional. All-MEC standouts Elia Barozzi, Alexandre Pages, Seena Saadevandi and Kan Watanabe return to the FSU lineup this spring.

West Virginia Wesleyan was third in preseason voting with 17 points. The Bobcats went 9-9 a season ago, earning a trip to the NCAA Atlantic Regional in Charleston. The Bobcats return 2023 MEC Player of the Year Kihiro Karasawa to the court this spring.

Davis & Elkins was fourth in preseason voting with 13 points, followed by West Virginia State (9) and Frostburg State (5).