Seahawks tabbed third in TCCC coaches poll

NEWPORT, R.I. - The Salve Regina University men's tennis team has been selected third in the 2011 The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) men's tennis preseason coaches poll.

The Seahawks return four student-athletes from last season's squad which captured the program's 15th conference championship and third NCAA Tournament berth. Led by first-year head coach Joe Heckley, the Seahawks knocked off No. 6 Endicott, No. 2 Nichols, and No. 1 Roger Williams to capture the conference crown. This year's squad will be led by junior captains Brian Castrichini (Winchester, Mass.) and Zachary Rosenfeld (Easton, Conn.).

"I'm not surprised that we were selected third," said Heckley. "There are a lot of great schools in our conference and anything can happen. We proved that last year by winning the conference tournament from the No. 3 seed. I'm looking forward to an exciting spring season."

Roger Williams topped with poll with 135 points and four first-place votes. Nichols received more first-place votes (six) than RWU but two fewer points (133) to place second, followed by the Seahawks with 123 points and remaining two first-place votes.

Western New England was tabbed fourth with 104 points, followed by Endicott (92 points), Colby-Sawyer (86), Wentworth (75), Curry (56), Eastern Nazarene (49), Gordon (42), Anna Maria (22), and Regis (Mass.) (19).

The Seahawks open the spring season on March 19 when they travel to Quincy, Mass. for a 1 p.m. match at Eastern Nazarene.