Women's Tennis 1/11/2022 2:00:00 PM

Both Men’s and Women’s Tennis Tabbed Second in Big South Preseason Poll

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Radford men's and women's tennis teams were selected to finish second in the Big South's 2022 preseason poll, the league announced on Tuesday.

The men's tennis team had a 12-7 overall record and 4-1 Big South record last season, placing second in the regular season before finishing as the runner-up in the Big South tournament. The team lost in a tightly contested 4-3 Championship Game last year to the 2022 preseason favorite Presbyterian.

The Highlanders received three first-place votes matching their total of first place votes received in last season's preseason poll. While the team is replacing a veteran presence in former Highlander Yevhen Sirous, all other players returned from last season's team.

Andres Silva will be the longest-tenured and most experienced player on the team returning while the Greek duo of Demis Taramonlis and Konstantinos Raptis enter their junior seasons looking to continue to make their mark in the men's tennis program. Guilherme Severin and Adtiya Balsekar are also looking to improve on their stellar freshmen campaigns this season.

William Crane, Karl Katlaps and Dylan Whitehead round out the senior leadership while the team also welcomed three newcomers in Robert Hagen, Raphael Mujan and Manfredi Vergine during the offseason.

The women's tennis team out-performed expectations last season after being picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll. The team finished with a 4-2 conference record tying for second place and advanced to the Big South championship match before falling 4-1 to this season's preseason favorite, Charleston Southern.

The Highlanders received one first-place vote for the second straight season after not receiving one since the preseason poll began tracking in 2004. The women's tennis team did not see much turnover during the offseason and will have a similar starting lineup compared to last season as all starting players return to the team.

Malin Falk will represent the senior leadership for the team this season as she enters her fourth year of a successful career at Radford. The team also returns reigning Big South player and freshman of the year Salma Loudili.

Melissa Ifidzhen, Marielle Leahy and Katey Fruehauf round out the senior leadership for the squad. Camryn McClure and Emily Brandow also return after successful 2021 campaigns. The Highlanders also added two newcomers this past offseason in Ameek Batth and Priscilla Stojanovska.

The season kicks off for both programs at home in just 19 days. Both teams are currently slated to play in doubleheaders on January 30th. The men will face Virginia State and Bluefield State College while the women take on West Virginia State and Bluefield State College.

2022 MEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL

Rk.	Team (First-Place Votes)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Points
1.	Presbyterian (5)	5	1	2	-	-	-	-	-	59
2.	Radford (3)	3	3	1	-	1	-	-	-	55
3.	Campbell	-	1	3	1	3	-	-	-	42
T-4.	Gardner-Webb	-	2	-	3	3	-	-	-	41
T-4.	UNC Asheville	-	1	2	3	1	1	-	-	41
6.	Longwood	-	-	-	1	-	7	-	-	26
7.	North Carolina A&T	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	3	13
8.	Hampton	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	5	11

2022 WOMEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL

Rk.	Team (First-Place Votes)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Points
1.	Charleston Southern (8)	8	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	80
2.	Radford (1)	1	2	4	-	1	1	-	-	-	62
3.	Campbell	-	3	1	1	4	-	-	-	-	57
4.	Presbyterian	-	1	3	3	1	1	-	-	-	56
5.	UNC Asheville	-	2	-	2	1	4	-	-	-	49
6.	Gardner-Webb	-	-	1	3	2	3	-	-	-	47
7.	Longwood	-	-	-	-	-	-	9	-	-	27
8.	North Carolina A&T	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	3	15
9.	Hampton	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	6	12

FOLLOW RADFORD MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS
For more updates on the Radford Men's and Women's Tennis teams, check out RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordMTEN and @RadfordWTEN on Twitter as well as 'radfordmtennis' and 'radfordwtennis' on Instagram and Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

Malin Falk: 5' 7"; Junior

Katey Fruehauf: 5' 3"; Junior

Marielle Leahy: 5' 11"; Junior

Camryn McClure: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Emily Brandow: 5' 6"; Freshman

Melissa Ifidzhen: 5' 10"; Junior

William Crane: 6' 3"; Junior

Karl Katlaps: 6' 1"; Junior

Konstantinos Raptis: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Andres Silva: 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Malin Falk
: 5' 7"; Junior

Katey Fruehauf
: 5' 3"; Junior

Marielle Leahy
: 5' 11"; Junior

Camryn McClure
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Emily Brandow
: 5' 6"; Freshman

Melissa Ifidzhen
: 5' 10"; Junior

William Crane
: 6' 3"; Junior

Karl Katlaps
: 6' 1"; Junior

Konstantinos Raptis
: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Andres Silva
: 5' 8"; Junior