It might be an understatement to say that the re-introduction of Eagles men's tennis has gone well. Six seasons since Edgewood College reinstated men's tennis after a 10-year absence, the Eagles stand as back-to-back defending champions of the NACC, and are looking to add a third straight title in 2017. This season could be the Eagles' biggest challenge, as head coach Ben Oestreich will need to fill the spot of Austin Papenthien, the Eagles' all-time leader in wins, who graduated last season. But with four returning seniors, the Eagles' experience should give them an advantage.
- 15-11 overall, 8-0 NACC
- Second consecutive NACC Championship
- Second consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament Appearance
- NACC Player of the Year: Austin Papenthien
- NACC All-Conference Singles: Jaime Benavides, Brian Davenport, Austin Papenthien, Evan Stone
- NACC All-Conference Doubles: Jaime Benavides/Evan Stone, Brian Davenport/Austin Papenthien
- Extended NACC regular season winning streak to 17 straight matches
Returning Players
Brian Davenport
Brian Davenport (Senior, Fitchburg, Wis./Verona) enters the 2017 season ranked third all-time in Edgewood College history with 86 wins. He needs just 10 wins this season to surpass Papenthien's school record and could become the first Edgewood College men's tennis player to win 100 matches in his career.
Evan Stone
Jaime Benavides
Andrew Martinez
Andrew Martinez (Senior, Heber, Calif./Southwest) had a strong debut season with the Eagles last year, going 5-2 in NACC singles matches and teaming up with Alex Hadjiev for a perfect 8-0 doubles record. Martinez will be counted on for steady, consistent play in the bottom half of the Eagles' lineup.
Alex Hadjiev
Alex Hadjiev (Senior, Verona, Wis./Verona) bounced back from an injury which claimed his entire 2014-15 season, to turn in a strong junior campaign. Hadjiev was nearly untouchable in conference play, going 7-1 at No. 6 singles and a perfect 8-0 in NACC doubles with Martinez. Fully two years out from his injury, expect Alex to have a big impact in 2017.
NACC Preseason Poll
2017 NACC Preseason Poll
1. Edgewood College (12), 154
2. Concordia Wisconsin (6), 148
3. MSOE, 128
4. Wisconsin Lutheran, 105
5. Aurora, 85
6. Dominican, 78
7. Marian, 49
8. Concordia Chicago, 43
9. Lakeland, 20
First-place votes in parentheses
Head Coach Ben Oestreich
Ben Oestreich has been the head men's tennis coach since the program was reinstated for the 2010-11 season. He guided the team consecutive NACC regular season, tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2016. He has never finished lower than fifth in the NACC regular season standings and has advanced to at least the NACC Tournament semifinals in every year but one. Oestreich has won or shared the NACC Coach of the Year award in each of the past three seasons.