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American Men’s and Women’s Tennis Top Patriot League Preseason Poll
Both programs picked to finish in first place; Men sit at 2-0 in 2002

February 5, 2002

WASHINGTON -- American University’s men’s and women’s tennis teams were each tabbed for a first-place finish in a preseason poll conducted by Patriot League coaches and sports information directors. The men commenced their 2002 season on Feb. 2, notching two victories over George Washington and Maryland. On the women’s side, competition begins this weekend when the Eagles face George Washington.

The men finished atop the poll by a two-point margin. After American, defending 2001 champion Army is slated to finish in the No. 2 spot with Navy, Colgate, and Lafayette following at Nos. 3, 4 and 5. In the women’s poll, American edged out three-time defending champion Army by only one point to claim the top pick. Colgate, who finished at No. 2 in the Patriot League in 2001, followed at third place in the poll. Lehigh and Bucknell rounded out the No. 4 and 5 slots, respectively.

The American men’s tennis team competed in the Colonial Athletic Association in 2001 and finished with a 9-7 record (4-2 CAA). Last year marked a turnaround season for the Eagles, who improved from a 5-17 mark (2-4 CAA) in 2000. In 2001, the team also celebrated a 69th national ranking from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), a first for the program.

Men’s head coach Martin Blackman (George Washington '98) is in his third year leading the Eagles men’s team. In 2001, he was honored as the CAA Co-Coach of the Year for his team’s outstanding improvement.

American’s women’s team also competed in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in 2000-01 and finished the season with a 7-9 record (1-4 CAA). Four matches, including three CAA match-ups, were cancelled due to inclement weather last season.

Head coach Carol Daniels (Penn State '82) is in her sixth year at the helm of the women’s tennis program and also holds the distinction of being the first full-time women’s tennis coach at American University in school history. Daniels was also the 2000 CAA Coach of the Year, marking the first time in school history that an American women’s tennis coach has received this honor.

American University, which is in its inaugural year as a member of the Patriot League, officially joined the conference on July 1. The University, founded in 1893, fields a 19-sport Division I athletics program, featuring 10 women’s sports and nine for men.