Three Big Ten Teams Ranked in ITA Preseason Top 25

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Three Big Ten schools have earned placement in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division I Men’s Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll sponsored by Tennis-Point. Ohio State is ranked second, Michigan 14th and Michigan State 24th.

Ohio State is coming off a 34-3 campaign and NCAA Runner-Up finish. JJ Tracey, ranked fourth nationally in singles, turned in a strong fall season, capturing the singles title at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships and teaming with Robert Cash to claim the doubles crown at the ITA All-American Championships. The duo stands atop the ITA doubles rankings. In addition, OSU's Bryce Nakashima and Preston Sterns won the doubles competition at the Big Ten Indoor Championships.

Michigan is under the direction of first-year Head Coach Sean Maymi, who spent the previous five seasons at Nebraska. The Wolverines posted a 27-5 record last season, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Senior Gavin Young earned ITA All-America honors in doubles last year and is ranked ninth in singles by the ITA.

Michigan State had a breakout fall season behind sophomore Ozan Baris. Ranked sixth by the ITA, Baris clinched the singles championship at the Battle in the Bay Classic and joined forces with Max Sheldon to secure the doubles title at the ITA National Fall Championships. Sheldon and teammate Sebastien Collard also won the doubles competition at the Milwaukee Tennis Classic.

The fall season for Big Ten schools concluded in early November but competition resumes this weekend when Illinois travels to the Gamecock Kickoff.