CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Presbyterian College men's tennis team was predicted to finish sixth this season in the Big South Conference in an annual poll of league coaches, the conference announced today.

The Blue Hose earned the No. 7 seed last season prior to the Big South Conference Championship tournament, where PC knocked off No. 2 UNC Asheville and No. 3 Coastal Carolina en-route to a runner-up finish. The squad became the first No. 7 seed to top a No. 2 seed since the League moved to the current format in 1994. The win also gave PC its first Big South postseason victory in any sport.

Defending conference champion Radford leads the poll with five first-place votes.

PC ranks sixth with 45 points, just one point shy of fourth-place teams Liberty and Winthrop, who each received one first-place vote. Three coaches predicted the Blue Hose to finish in second place.

Three newcomers join an experienced group that returns four juniors and three seniors.

PC began play on Saturday with a 4-0 road loss to No. 39 South Carolina.

The Blue Hose next host Troy on Friday at 2 p.m. at Templeton Tennis Courts. The first Conference match will take place on Saturday, Feb. 16, as Longwood will host UNC Asheville. The Big South Men's Tennis Conference Championship is slated for Wednesday-Saturday, April 17-20, and will be hosted by Winthrop.

To view the full poll, click here.