GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Belmont Abbey men's tennis team was selected as the preseason favorite in the Conference Carolinas preseason coaches poll released Friday by the league office. The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches and they can't vote for their own school.
The Crusaders received 114 points and 10 first-place votes to lead the way ahead of runner-up Francis Marion, who earned 123 points and the remaining three first-place votes.
Belmont Abbey enters the season having won the last four Conference Carolinas Tournament titles and also captured the regular season title last season.
The Crusaders open the season with a match at Flagler on Friday, February 6 in a rematch of the NCAA Southeast Regional opening round match from a season ago.
The 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Championship is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, April 22-Saturday, April 25 at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, South Carolina.
2026 Conference Carolinas
Men's Tennis Preseason Poll
|
School |
Votes (first place) |
| 1 |
Belmont Abbey |
140 (10) |
| 2 |
Francis Marion |
123 (3) |
| 3 |
Converse |
117 |
| 4 |
Mount Olive |
105 |
| 5 |
Emmanuel |
92 |
| 6 |
Barton |
89 |
| 6 |
Young Harris |
89 |
| 8 |
Lees-McRae |
80 |
| 9 |
North Greenville |
64 |
| 10 |
Shorter |
34 |
| 10 |
King |
34 |
| 12 |
Chowan |
31 |
| 13 |
Ferrum |
16 |
2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis
Players to Watch
Belmont Abbey
- Ricard Novell, Jr., Barcelona, Spain (2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas, ITA Southeast Region Most Improved Player)
- Peru Bayo, So., Getxo, Spain (2025 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Isaac Buerkle, So., Albany, Georgia
